Thursday 30 June 2022 07:09 AM How one of Britain's biggest town centres is 'dying on its feet' trends now
One of Britain's biggest town centres has been so badly affected by shop closures that some women say they 'can't even find anywhere to buy a bra'.
The astonishing claim in Wigan follows the closure of shops including a Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, BHS, H&M and Next in recent years.
High streets up and down the country have been hit by a toxic combination of spiralling rents and business rates, internet competition – and claims of corporate greed leading to store closures.
Wigan's major shopping centre, The Grand Arcade, only opened in 2007, is half empty, while a second centre is closed entirely, awaiting a £130m redevelopment
The astonishing claim that there is no longer anywhere to buy a bra in Wigan follows the closure of shops including a Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, BHS, H&M and Next in recent years
The fate of the town – famed for pies, Northern Soul music and rugby league, and which has streets filled with historic buildings – was highlighted in a recent post on the Mumsnet social media site
Wigan also suffers due to its close proximity to Manchester and Liverpool city centres and the out-of-town Trafford Centre.
Just one small ladies' boutique remains in the Greater Manchester town, specialising in smart outerwear and party garments. The other option, Primark, is, locals say, 'for the young ones'.
The major shopping centre, the Grand Arcade, opened in 2007, but is half empty, while a second centre is closed entirely, awaiting a £130million redevelopment.
The fate of the town – famed for pies, Northern Soul music and rugby league, and which has streets filled with historic buildings – was highlighted in a recent post on the Mumsnet social media site.
An anonymous author told how Wigan has lost 'Debenhams, Next, Marks and Spencer, H&M, Body Shop, its central Post Office, game shops, cafes, all restaurants, health food stores, most pubs, its huge market, several banks, nightclubs, book shops, many charity shops and all its high-end hair salons'.
She added: 'These have been replaced by pop-up eyebrow/lashes salons, fast food joints, pound shops, phone-unlocking shops, Cash Converter-type shops, Primark (its only remaining clothes store), Iceland. The rest is boarded up.'
The woman continued: 'I can't understand how it got so bad. Why did everything just die? It was previously so bl**dy alive'.
The post was commented on more than 400 times, with people sharing woes about high streets up and down the country and calling for action on parking charges, business rates and making internet retailers pay fair taxes.
In Wigan, Janet Dickinson, who runs Lady Designer Wear, the town centre's last women's boutique, said: 'There are ladies coming in here saying they can't even get a bra.'
'Just for the young ones': Lady Designer Wear owner Janet Dickinson (left) says the closures have taken a heavy toll on older shoppers
Wigan is now full of pop-up eyebrow and lashes salons, fast food restaurants, pound shops, phone-unlocking shops, Cash Converter-type shops, Primark (its only remaining clothes store), Iceland, says one resident
Just one small ladies' boutique remains in the Greater Manchester town, specialising in smart outerwear and party garments. The other option, Primark, is, locals say, 'for the young ones'
Wigan's centre and outdoor market – opened by Princess Diana in 1991 – are to be replaced with flats, restaurants, a hotel and cinema. Just four stalls remain at the market
Primark, her customers tell her, is just 'for the young ones'. She added: 'The chains are all pulling out and we have no supermarket – those in the town centre all closed. We still have a lot of banks but they are doing limited hours.
'The Post Office moved into WH Smith but that closed. Now it's in a small unit and
