These particular empty chairs and tables do not reflect the state of Gosport’s High Street, especially as the picture wa taken at about ten past six in the morning.
But as an illustration it serves a purpose of depicting a high street that is not in the best of health. I don’t think it unreasonable to say that most people would probably blame the Internet. Is that an accurate position though. Perhaps the High Streets equivalent to Amazon would be something like Argos, coupled with all the other shops on the high street being able to meet all of our normal needs? It’s a matter of scale, and availability. We now want things that we never knew we needed.
We can’t deny though that things are unlikely to change in a backward direction, and that online shopping will continue and grow.
What then, happens to the High Street? I think it has to change it’s role in some respects. On Tuesday I had to go in to town during lunchtime, I had forgotten the market was on, It was heaving. There were lots of tables & chairs out, the bars were busy and there were lots of people wandering around.
I think on tomorrows high street what are now shops will probably be living units, coffee shops, restaurants galleries, street entertainers and perhaps the occasional specialist shop.
What do you think?
Bills Posts 