Croydon record retailer reports on empty shops and the declining footfall of people visiting the town

BY TARA O’CONNOR
Local Government Reporter
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

Shoppers are abandoning a mall because of delays in revamping it, a trader says.

There has been a ‘horrible decline’ in the numbers of people visiting Croydon town centre, according to Duncan Barnes, who runs 101 Records, which moved to North End, Croydon in 1991, from East Croydon station.

He claimed 10 years ago empty shops in Croydon were unheard of – but there are plenty today.

Mr Barnes said: “Footfall has dipped horribly in Croydon for years. It used to be a thriving cosmopolitan place and it was always busy.”

And he believes delays in building a Westfield Shopping Centre are partly to blame and does not think the £1bn shopping centre will ever be built.

He added: “North End has been declining for years and very little has been done about it.

“It is frustrating. The writing has been on the wall for a long time. It is frustrating that the council and the partnership seem to have two speeds – dead slow and complete still.”

On November 1, the Croydon Partnership, a joint venture between Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Hammerson announced that plans for the shopping centre could be different from what was originally planned.

The team behind the regeneration had a meeting with Croydon council, at which it was revealed that a hotel, more offices and fewer parking spaces and more co-working office spaces could all be a feature of the revised plans.

Council leader Tony Newman described the meeting as “encouraging,” and said the changes are more sustainable.

The Croydon Partnership said it would continue to “invest and improve” the town centre while a revised scheme is worked on.

And Mr Barnes thinks more needs to be done to encourage people to shop in Croydon.

He said: “They need to get traders into empty shops and tidy up North End to make it attractive.

“I think the partnership should get a group of positive-minded retailers together – we are all here for one reason, to make a living.

“I am in my early 60s but I’m not planning to retire just yet. Running a shop is an expensive business and I make far more on the internet.

“I like running a shop, there are plenty of shoppers who want to browse.”

But, like many in Croydon, Mr Barnes is not convinced that the scheme, which has faced a number of delays, will happen at all.

He added: “I personally don’t see Westfield happening. Initially there was a lot of enthusiasm for it – Croydon has been crying out for something to be done.

“But after a while, and promises and promises, you realise nothing is going to happen.
“I am still for something happening, but after the meeting, I can’t help thinking we will be having this conversation in a year’s time.”

A spokesman for the Croydon Partnership said that it was working on plans to improve the town centre, but added that footfall in Croydon is up compared to last year.

The spokesman said: “We are working closely with both the Croydon Business Improvement District and the council to deliver a range of measures to help increase footfall, improve the environment and introduce more activity in the town centre.

These initiatives include engaging with local charities and community groups to utilise space for events and activities, delivering activity in key parts of the centres, renovations including enhanced lighting, improvements to signage and display windows in the former Allders building.

“We are committed to making the town centre an attractive destination for shoppers and visitors, and the latest data shows footfall in the town centre is up 2.6 per cent on last year.

This compares favourably to the rest of London and the UK, which is down 1.5 per cent.”