Today, I wanted to drop a coat into the cleaners, but was told they were not taking any more incoming goods, in readiness for the whole business to be shipped right across to the other side of Havant, close to the enormous, revamped Tesco supermarket.
Havant itself is a dying town. Every time I wander around, there seems to be another shop that’s closed, its windows plastered with glossy photographs of what a shop could look like, if there was one still there! It makes the place appear attractive by disguising the empty premises, but it makes shopping a bit of a nightmare.
Things ain't what they used to be! It's happening everywhere. Towns are becoming Gost Towns. I'm not sure whether sense will ever prevail again.
ReplyDeleteWe also live in a town, and it would be difficult to manage without a car -- unless one scored the ideal location, but even then ...
ReplyDeleteThis is sad to read. I remember your pictures of Havant, such a lovely town. Why on earth does anyone think these horrible malls and huge box stores are better than fine little local shops? I guess it's economics, but I remain unconvinced it's better.
ReplyDeleteThe owners of a small 'local-shops' arcade close to us have just scored a spectacular "own goal." They also owned the adjoining, always busy free car-park. "Ahh . ." they thought, "Let's charge the punters to park while they shop." But the shoppers voted with their wheels! Average occupancy of the car park is now 4 or 5 vehicles at any one time. Half of the shops in the arcade have closed because the customers no longer come, and the hugely popular "open market" on Fridays ran for the last time the week after the charges were introduced.
ReplyDeleteSad indeed - the bus looks as soulless as the destination.
ReplyDeleteI think it is the same in most towns, Jinksy - largely because of the big supermarkets who care nothing for the small shop keepers.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice that they have bus transportation to the store. I wish there were more unique small stores around to browse, but realistically I don't need what they used to sell.
ReplyDeleteJust for a moment I thought the first picture was of an airport front but the concrete bollards are missing. We have a Tesco bus much more delapidated than the one you show. The only problem is now one knows when it runs. A modern service bus goes there as well every half hour. The trouble is we have to walk two miles to catch it.
ReplyDeleteSoulless is the right word from Brett.
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ReplyDeleteWell, I seem to recall you bought some colorful boots lately - perfect for yomping. Just kidding, I'm totally with you on this. I think it's even worse for youth who only see the world from a car window.
ReplyDeleteOur town seems to be becoming donut-like , too .
ReplyDeleteWhen the Town Hall decided to remodel the central square .... to make the town "much more welcoming" .... the building work went on so long everyone moved or went bankrupt .
Luckily we still have the weeekly market clinging on stubbornly !
There are whole areas here that are just the same.
ReplyDeleteNo allowance is made for little old ladies like us! Luckily I live near to a busy road with lots of choices of buses. However, the busy road is not the most pleasant place to be near with all the fumes..... but I guess the buses do compensate for that inconvenience.
Can't say I've ever been to Havant in my life.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
Some artist has fashioned real metal street-signs on which is written: "On this site stood a local market bankrupted by the monopolistic, make-it-cheaper-in-China anti-union big box store where you shop."
ReplyDeleteAnd of course lots of people do their shopping by internet now.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you capture Havant’s dying gasps on film for future SS posts!
ReplyDeleteDear Pen,
ReplyDeletefirst I had to look up "hiking boots" - I thought that maybe they are a sort of roller blades :-) It is spooky, when town gets empty - I see that in a lot of smaller towns here: a few big stores ( everywhere the same - and what do they think: how many shoes a person can wear?)- and otherwise the atmosphere of a town in a Wild West film. That is one reason why we moved to a big city. (Though I wouldn't like to raise a child here).
This scenario is being repeated throughout the country apart from chocolate box villages and small country towns where antique shops and tea shops abound with independent grocers and greengrocers, three or four pubs/restaurants and a Chinese/Indian take-away.
ReplyDeleteBad news for the non-driver in dying towns.
Your post certainly strikes a cord with all of us! There is one relatively small format grocery store in the area where I shop. I really don't need to walk 2 miles through everything under the sun just to pick up a few groceries!
ReplyDeleteI know it might make me an old moaner, but I do so agree with you. Somehow I can't imagine people sharing pictures of old Tesco stores in 50 years time like we share images of ancient high streets.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with everybody. Years ago we lived in a small town in Missouri where we could walk downtown and shop for everything. By the time we moved three years later, most of those stores were either closed or had moved out to the edge of town in a strip mall near the wal-mart or k-mart.
ReplyDeletewe have similar issues where small shops have difficulties competing with megastores...
ReplyDeletePity!!
it leaves many empty spots and a look of desolation, killing the charm of one district or another.
:(~
HUGZ