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Yiewsley High Street named as London's worst
A NEW report shows that Yiewsley's High Street has been hardest hit of any town anywhere in London by the recession.
Figures reflect a sharp jump in the number of closing shops in the area, in June 2008 the vacancy rate was just 3.8 per cent, but one year on, the vacancy rate is 29 per cent.
These figures show nearly one in three shops have closed down over the last 12 months.
Liz Peace, British Property Federation chief executive, said: "Smaller centres have to reinvent themselves in terms of convenience and we need to properly work out what smaller towns are for, as they've just accumulated problems over the years. Second-rate retailers have been found out by the recession.
"The problem is many shops won't come back, because there isn't the demand. It's a travesty that so many towns have cut their own throats in terms of planning charges and traffic restrictions."
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What is this censorship?
I'm sorry, but while I appreciate that many hard working individuals are losing their jobs and their businesses as a result of the current economic downturn, the simple fact is that over 90% of the retail spaces on Yiewsley High Street are occupied by rubbish, be it pound shops, stores only selling ethnic minority clothing and foods, scummy pubs and dodgy fast food outlets (not the major brands).
The social composition of the area is changing (slowly, but for the better) and the more affluent people moving into the new developments around Yiewsley High Street don't want stores full of junk, dodgy kebabs or pubs full of tattooed chavs and yobs.
The only saving grace is the Morrisons supermarket that took over the old Co-op site. We can only hope that the planned new Tesco is built soon, in order to further the eradication of these undesirable and, as current economics are proving, unwanted retailers. The premises can then be demolished to make way for either new retail space aimed at desirable and aspirational retailers or new residential space.
As harsh as it may sound, this situation could be turned into an opportunity. By eliminating the scummy shops and pubs from the area, any subsequent money spent on regeneration and redevelopment (either by the council or by private developers) can actually deliver meaningful results rather than being poured down the drain.
With Crossrail around 7-8 years away, the area is well placed for a major regeneration as a commuter residential area, hence why Tesco is looking to build a bigger store and why Morrisons moved in, not to mention as developments such as Parkwest and Waterside Park are proving.
Further commercial development, coupled with removing run-down council rented accommodation to make way for new commuter homes will help the area complete the transformation from being one of the worst parts of the borough to one of the economically most important.