I WAS interested to read in last week's Herald about the number of empty shops in Worthing.
Click here for the original article.The problem for those of us who are west of The Body Shop is that there has been a marked dete
rioration in trade over the past few years which has not been reflected in a reduction in costs, principally rent and rates.
Exactly why business has deteriorated is difficult to pinpoint, but it would seem that parking, demographic change and possibly even the market have all played their part.
The market may well bring more people to the centre of the town, but it makes it more difficult for them to reach our end.
The Town Centre Initiative does not own any shops in the town and therefore has no competence to "encourage" independent retailers to set up in Worthing.
That should be the job of landlords and their agents.
There has, in fact, been no shortage of independents setting-up in the area.
I can think of at least seven who have started up since we have been trading here (July, 2000) but who are no longer with us, having folded or taken the first opportunity to break their leases.
If the estate agents' signs are to be believed, two more are currently seeking to relocate.
This high turnover of shops supports the view that rent and rates are too high. Furthermore, the recent move of T-Mobile and Carphone Warehouse to the centre of town suggests that the area is just not good enough for these national multiples, either.
The area will only be fully let on a sustainable basis when landlords' expectations are reduced to conform to the level of trade available in this area.
Given the rigidity of the commercial leasing market, we might have to wait a long time for that.
John Venn
Eureka!
Montague Street
Worthing-------------------------------------
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