DESPITE ongoing plans to reinvigorate Bexhill’s town centre and attract more shoppers, several businesses will be shutting up shop in the next few months and it is an issue which simply must be addressed as a priority.
It has already been confirmed that the local branch of Clintons Cards is closing down while Priceless, the popular picture framing shop in Devonshire Road will also be vacating its premises.
The profusion of clearly empty and soon-to-be so shops is causing significant concerns, with Bexhill once again being dubbed in some quarters as a “ghost town”.
In another significant blow, it has also been confirmed that the Oxfam charity shop in Western Road will also be no more come the end of July despite its popularity with bargain hunters.
Prime sites also remain empty with seemingly no prospect of being occupied anytime soon.
Take for example the former Edinburgh Woolen site in Devonshire Road. The exterior of the premises is now in a dilapidated state and thus far there has been no confirmation of which businesses might be interested in taking over such a prime town centre site. That is certainly a worrying sign.
Equally concerning is the fact that Lloyds Bank will be closing its doors once and for all in the not-too-distant future, leaving another gaping hole in Devonshire Road.
As a result, that means that three banks; namely Barclays, NatWest and Lloyds will no longer be operating permanent branches in Bexhill, leaving those prime sites empty.
At the recent political husting in Little Common ahead of the General Election on July 4, all of the candidates who attended, almost without exception, said that they were committed to making Bexhill a success for both residents and tourists which is, of course, a positive.
But actions speak louder than words as one attendee commented afterwards and, whoever is elected, needs to ensure that proves to be the case.
Bexhill’s main retail streets; namely Devonshire Road, Sea Road, Western Road and Sackville Road need extensive investment so that shoppers don’t feel the need to travel to the likes of Eastbourne or Brighton for their retail fix.
It is not all doom and gloom, however, a collaborative approach can help put the wheels in motion for a brighter future rather than lamenting the lack of progress thus far.
Everyone involved can learn from the success of nearby towns such as Hastings and Eastbourne and replicate the template they have implemented to boost businesses and visitor numbers.
It can be done with commitment and an innovative approach. Now all those involved need to ensure it happens because empty shops are a real turn-off.
