Canterbury feels the pinch?
Canterbury looked somehow deserted yesterday, all right it was still difficult to park in the town but there just seemed to be fewer people, than I have noticed in recent years. May be car parking at £1.20 an hour, has had an effect, more likely though Thanet residents’ are staying away, as we now have a good selection of half decent shops in Westwood Cross.
I have often criticized the development at Westwood, with its almost universally accepted traffic problems, but traffic between Canterbury and Thanet is not what it used to be.
There seemed to be quite a few closed shops, some being revamped or demolished, I could not tell which, even Boots the Chemist has retreated from the corner of Mercery Lane, where they have been since I believe the Middle ages. I think Canterbury just has too much retail space, the Whitefriars Centre having recently expanded.
What with years of mugging motorist with outrageous parking charges, and convenience of shopping within Thanet I think Canterbury is having a bit of a recession.
I see from one of the local papers that Canterburyans are complaining that their High Street is looking a bit shabby. Poor luvs!
ReplyDeleteA mini Westwood Cross effect caused by Whitefriars has certainly pulled crowds away from recesses and one end of High St. I think we kid ourselves and believe the bumpf from TDC if we really think that our grotty could be anywhere, windswept, Westwood Cross keeps us in Thanet rather than visiting Canterbury from time to time!
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