FIGHT FOR THE OF WALES’ HIGH
I
T has been nearly a month since non-essential shops re-opened in Wales, but have you been on a shopping trip since then?
Our high streets are very different to how they were pre-lockdown, with queuing to get into shops, security guards keeping check on the number of people allowed in and hand sanitiser stations at every corner.
Some shops have reported an increase in the number of their customers, but others have reported difficulties – one shop in Tonyrefail reporting that they didn’t have a single customer on one day of trading.
But there are some signs of footfall increasing over the past month, and last week the Welsh Government announced it has made up to £9m available to support town centres as they recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
The money will be able to be used for things like outdoor awnings, outdoor tables and chairs, outdoor heating, outdoor screening, bollards, planters and small green infrastructure schemes.
All important ways to improve shopping areas and encourage shoppers to return, but experts say that we are now in a “use-it-or-loseit” scenario.
Retail was struggling even before the devastating lockdown and any extra imbalance could be the tipping point that puts even more retailers out of businesses.
A lot of work is being done to improve city and town centres across Wales to entice people back.
In Rhyl, for example, parking has been suspended to increase space for pedestrians; in Cardiff, Castle Street has been turned into an alfresco eating area, and some free car parking has been introduced in Swansea.
Russell Greenslade, chief executive of Swansea BID (Business Improvement District) said: “BID businesses have reported a steady stream of customers as they’ve reopened their doors to shoppers.
“There is a general feeling of optimism expressed by businesses, which have made a huge effort to create a safe and enjoyable experience for both staff and shoppers as they embrace a ‘new normal’.
“We are delighted to see the city centre opening back up, and would like to thank everyone for their support and patience as we all adjust.”
Deputy Minister for Housing and
Local Government Hannah Blythyn said: “We all know that town centres are facing huge challenges in light of Covid-19, but I am committed to ensuring Welsh town centres not only survive but thrive.
“The support will fund adaptations in town centres, which will facilitate trading and public safety.
“This will include things like outdoor tables and chairs, awnings and planters to ensure that areas are segregated and safe and that business can operate under current social distancing requirements.
“These actions will provide a sense of well-being, safety and confidence to encourage people to return to the high street.
“As we plan to reopen our public spaces and town centres, we have a unique opportunity to re-think and to re-imagine our town centres as we would like them to be – greener, cleaner, more connected.”
Retail expert Julie Palmer, of business advisory firm Begbies Traynor, told BBC Radio Wales: “We are in a use-it-or-lose-it scenario. Everyone is responsible for helping some form of high street that we know and love to remain.
“Footfall is absolutely key. There has been this huge migration towards online shopping, and this has just accelerated through lockdown. We hope now that shops are open, people will reverse back the other way.
“Councils now need to help, some of the things being talked about are things like making finance available, making furniture available, by making high streets places where people can linger and stay, rather than what seems to be the case at the moment where people are going for a specific piece of shopping, and going home.
“Landlords also need a bit of a reality check and need to move to an era of turnover-based rents rather than the very harsh quarterly-based rent system that has been based on a rise. Everyone has a part to play.
“Every little thing will help. I think one of the key things for retailers to recognise at the moment is that a lot of the extra measures they have to take will add to the cost base.
“Even the monitoring of people going in means you have the combination of increased costs and reduced footfall, therefore reduced turnover.
“Retail was a sector that was struggling even before lockdown, so any extra imbalance could be a tipping point that puts even more retailers out of businesses.
“Any measures that we can put in place to make the town centres more attractive encourage more people to the town centres and linger, because when people linger they tend to spend more money.
“The other aspect we cannot forget is the casual dining sector, one drives the footfall to the other. We are seeing a lot of distress in that area at the moment.
“If you look at the social distance factors you have to put in place a lot of casual dining providers will have reduced table covers in their restaurant.
“In quite a lot of the businesses, you often hear them say the last
10% of the footfall gives them the profit and the first
90% contrib
The other aspect we cannot forget is the casual dining sector, one drives the footfall to the other.’
utes to the fixed cost overheads.
That sector needs to be looked at as well, because the one helps the other.”
Footfall in Newport city centre in June increased by