“McLellan's article is nothing but negativity.”
Call me heretical but..
Actually Mr. McLellan’s piece is quite good (assuming his info about the background to various studies is accurate).
The problem is ‘all sides’ (including ‘us’) see things as relatively binary.
‘The traders have a right to a rapid return to normality - which includes expectations of driving/parking’.
‘The world would be a better place if everyone walked/cycled’.
Presumably the cones are a prelude to some ‘works’. Parking is being removed to allow for necessary redistribution of space.
Is anything being done to discourage through traffic?
I lived on Morningside Road for 10 years and saw shops come and go, plus some there before me and still in business.
There was much sadness/annoyance at the closure of the fish shop, but I’m sure Cook makes much more money (from many more customers).
It was also curious how some shops survived with (apparently) next to no customers.
The toy shop has outlasted Toys ‘r’ Us! I’m sure Safeway (now Waitrose) put some shops out of business.
The number of charity shops (rivalling Stockbridge) is a clear sign of changing retail patterns.
(Will charity shops survive Covid?)
These days there are fewer certainties than a year ago.
It’s good that CEC currently has councillors who actually want to try things, I just hope they are not let down too much by CEC’s ability to deliver...
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