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Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The once thriving 'destination' high street that has become a 'dying ghost town' with more than 40 empty shops
The once thriving 'destination' high street that has become a 'dying ghost town' with more than 40 empty shops Is YOUR local high street going downhill? Email Families living along a once thriving high street have described it as a 'dying ghost town' after more than 40 shops closed their doors. Walsall was once the beating heart of the UK's leather and saddle trade before becoming a 'destination' retail centre with a range of trendy independent stores and top chains. But depressing photos have shown how far downhill the West Midlands town has gone in recent times, with many businesses now boarded up, featuring smashed windows and covered in graffiti. The market town was recently named the second lowest rated area in England to start a business and previously had one of the worst empty shop rates in Britain. Residents of the area admit they fear for the future of the 'forgotten' shopping hub where there is 'no longer any sense of community'. In particular, frustrated store owners say they are finding it hard to make ends meet and not enough is being done to revive the post-industrial town. Harcharan Pala, who runs music store Revolution Records, said: 'I've been here eight or nine years and we've seen the big shops like Debenhams and M&S disappear. 'The town is just desolate now, hardly anyone comes here. It used to be a destination town, people went out of their way to come here, but that just doesn't happen anymore. A boarded up shop in Walsall. Families living along the once thriving high street have described it as a 'dying ghost town' It was once the beating heart of the UK's leather and saddle trade before becoming a 'destination' retail centre Depressing photos have shown how far downhill the West Midlands town has gone in recent times, with many businesses now boarded up 'Without those big anchor shops drawing people in, there's no reason for people to come shopping here anymore. They go to cities like Birmingham or Wolverhampton or even out of town retail parks in Cannock or Merry Hill in Dudley 'We've just been left behind here. The amount of empty shops is sad to see.' The shopkeeper added that he was considering taking his business online amid diminishing footfall. 'But there's no incentive for small business owners as the rents and rates are too high,' he said. 'They need to come down to draw people back otherwise it will remain empty. 'I'm attached to an indoor market and the number of traders had dropped 18 to seven. I'm thinking about moving online as it's just very difficult to compete. 'People's shopping habits have massively changed. Walsall has turned into a town of pound shops and charity shops.' Window cleaner Paul Booth, meanwhile, who has been washing the town centre's offices, shops, banks and pubs for 44 years, says the town is 'dead'. The 64-year-old used to work six days a week but can now complete his rounds in just a day. Harcharan Pala, who runs music store Revolution Records, said he has seen some of the big chains in the area move on The market town was recently named the second lowest rated area in England to start a business A smashed window on a shop front in Walsall, a struggling town in the West Midlands It previously had one of the worst empty shop rates in Britain New figures have revealed Walsall was below average on nearly every economic metric and almost one in four residents are economically inactive. There are around 150 shops across the West Mindland town's four main shopping streets meaning approximately one in four are currently estimated to be lying empty. Mr Booth added: 'I don't even recognise the place anymore. It's just empty and dying a death. 'We first noticed it during the recession around 2008 and the town has just never recovered. 'I used to know all the street cleaners, bin men, bus drivers, you couldn't go five steps without being stopped. 'Now there's no sense of community at all. Just cheap and nasty shops selling tacky plastic toys and mobile phone covers. 'It's sad to see what Walsall has become.' Damian Chapman, 30, is a rare example of someone taking their business to the struggling market town. He is opening a trading card game store this month. Walsall pictured in the 1950s. Things have changed in the market town over the past few decades Residents of the area admit they fear for the future of the 'forgotten' shopping hub where there is 'no longer any sense of community' New figures have revealed Walsall was below average on nearly every economic metric Almost one in four residents in the area are economically inactive There are around 150 shops across the West Mindland town's four main shopping streets, a steep decline Approximately one in four businesses in Walsall's centre are currently estimated to be lying empty He added: 'I'd seen all the negativity around the town centre but it didn't put me off because this is where I grew up and came as a kid. 'There was a trading card game shop which closed down where I used to go after school and I think there is certainly still a demand for it. 'We've got an upstairs we're hoping to turn into a community space so the younger generation have something to do in the six weeks holidays. 'I think when you have something niche and unique too, people will travel to seek it out. 'You don't want to be dealing with collectibles on eBay and online, you want to be able to feel it, so that was the thinking about opening up the shop. 'There's still enough footfall with the college in the town too, it is actually surprisingly busy not just on weekends - it just needs more open shops for people to enjoy.' But Jonathan Lovell, 42, disagreed, saying: 'Walsall had one of the best night life scenes going in the Midlands on top of a thriving market and good shopping, now it's just depressingly dead. 'We grew up in the Wharf Bar, the atmosphere in the town was brilliant. But now I don't feel safe to go out and I come out of my flat most mornings to find someone has urinated on my doorstep most days, it's pretty grim.' Damian Chapman, pictured, is a rare example of someone taking their business to the struggling market town The Starting Gate pub in Walsall provides yet another example of a derelict building in the area Walsall Council said the town is undergoing a £1.5bn regeneration programme, which will create opportunities for businesses Grates covering closed shops are a common sight in the once popular market town Graffiti adorns the front of many buildings in Walsall as the area slides into decline Tom Ironside, director of business and regulation at the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Vacant properties have become an all too familiar sight across the country in recent years. 'Local initiatives to rejuvenate town centres and high streets are welcome however it is essential that wider steps are taken to support their transformation. 'The current, outdated business rates system has deterred local investment and contributed to widespread store closures. 'It is essential that the Government's reforms to rates leave no shop paying more. This would allow retailers to invest more in the communities they serve and help breathe life back into our high streets.' Walsall Council said the town is undergoing a £1.5bn regeneration programme, which will create opportunities for businesses. Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader of the local authority, said: 'We know the economy is struggling. People's shopping habits have changed, and our town centres need to diversify. 'The council is working to create an environment that attracts people into the town centre so that local people will shop local and support local businesses.'
The Sun
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Over FORTY empty shops lie deserted in our ‘dying' ghost town – tourists used to flock here but now it's unrecognisable
A POPULAR shopping centre is now a shadow of its former self – with more than 40 empty units sparking fears it has become a 'dying ghost town'. Walsall, in the West Midlands, known historically for its leather and saddle trade, was once a thriving retail destination. 8 8 8 8 But now, boarded-up shops, graffiti-covered storefronts, and shattered windows tell a different story. Walsall, recently rated the second-worst place in England to start a business, has been left reeling by years of decline. Around one in four residents are now economically inactive, and nearly a quarter of the town's 150 central retail units sit empty. Local businessman Harcharan Pala, who runs Revolution Records, said: 'I've been here eight or nine years and we've seen the big shops like Debenhams and M&S disappear. "The town is just desolate now, hardly anyone comes here.' Walsall's fall from grace has been long and painful. As big brands moved out, so did shoppers – many now heading to larger cities like Birmingham or retail parks in Cannock and Dudley instead. 'Without those big anchor shops drawing people in, there's no reason for people to come shopping here anymore,' Mr Pala added. "The amount of empty shops is sad to see.' Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down Despite the bleak picture, some still see potential. Damian Chapman, 30, is opening a trading card game store – The Card Loft – on July 26. 'I'd seen all the negativity around the town centre but it didn't put me off because this is where I grew up,' he said. 'I think when you have something niche and unique too, people will travel to seek it out.' Others are less hopeful. Window cleaner Paul Booth, 64, who's worked in Walsall for over four decades, said: 'There used to be a team of five of us. "Now I can do it all on a Tuesday. It's just empty and dying a death.' The decline, which many trace back to the 2008 recession, has eroded not just business, but community spirit. 'I used to know all the street cleaners, bin men, bus drivers,' Paul added. 'Now there's no sense of community at all.' Resident Jonathan Lovell, 42, said: 'Walsall had one of the best night life scenes going in the Midlands... now it's just depressingly dead. I don't feel safe to go out.' Others, like arcade boss Craig Marlow, blame the collapse of the market as the start of the downturn: 'Walsall is a really good community, but it's slowly dying because the destination is gone.' Industry leaders say the problems in Walsall mirror those seen across the country. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." Tom Ironside, of the British Retail Consortium, said: 'Vacant properties have become an all too familiar sight… It is essential that Government reforms help make investment more viable.' Walsall Council insists change is coming. A £1.5 billion regeneration programme is underway, aimed at reviving the local economy and attracting more visitors and businesses. Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader of Walsall Council, said: 'People's shopping habits have changed, and our town centres need to diversify. "The council is working to create an environment that attracts people into the town centre.' But for many residents, time is running out. Without urgent action, they fear the heart of Walsall could disappear for good. Walsall's decline is part of a wider crisis hitting high streets across the UK. Rising costs, changing shopping habits, and the shift to online retail have forced both big-name chains and independents to shut their doors in growing numbers. The Original Factory Shop is closing several branches, while Poundland, New Look and River Island are all scaling back. Even essential retailers like Asda and Morrisons have begun shutting stores, blaming high rents and falling demand. Claire's is also facing major financial trouble, with dozens of closures possible. The Centre for Retail Research predicts over 17,000 shop closures and more than 200,000 job losses this year alone. Experts say the outdated business rates system is making it harder for retailers to survive, especially in already struggling towns. The Sun has approached Walsall Council for comment. 8 8 8 8
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Walsall economy 'slowly dying' traders say
Businesses in Walsall are urging the council to do more to support local trade, after new figures revealed the town was economically below average on nearly every front. The figures show nearly one in four residents are economically inactive, and that the borough needs 3,125 more businesses to reach its full potential. Walsall Council has said it is in the middle of a £1.5bn regeneration programme, creating opportunities for Harcharan Pala, who runs Revolution Records, said he might "go solely online" due to the lack of people visiting the town. "It's been difficult, we have found it harder as a physical store to maintain pricing. I think the town itself is dwindling," he said. The latest economy data was presented at the council's Prosperous Places and Investment scrutiny committee meeting, by the executive director for economy, environment and communities, Dave said the figures also showed there was a lack of funding going into innovation in the area, and that the GVA per head was massively below the national average. Gross Value Added (GVA) measures how much money is generated through goods and services within the local Brown added that wages in the town were still £5,000 less than the national average. Craig Marlow, the managing director of local arcade The Retro Realm, believes the local economy is struggling because the town does not have the same draw as it used to. "It's a destinational thing - Walsall used to have a really good market, it was known all over the country, it was so strong," he said."It makes me feel disheartened. Walsall is a really good community, but it's slowly dying because the destination is gone. "Everyone goes to Merry Hill or to Telford, everywhere except Walsall." Mr Marlow added. Despite the new figures, the council maintains the view that the borough is "full of potential".Councillor Adrian Andrew, Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, said: "We recognise the barriers we face - from lower business density to higher levels of economic inactivity. "That's why we're investing in enterprise, skills, and regeneration to tackle these issues. Without these interventions, Walsall could be in a far worse position."Additional reporting by Rachel Alexander, Local Democracy Reporter Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
