Invasion of the charity shops
As historic street turns into ‘2nd-hand alley’, one businessman fights back
A HISTORIC cathedral city street is now so overrun with charity shops that traders are calling for them to be licensed to curb their spread.
Once home to a rich mix of independent stores, Mealcheapen Street in Worcester is now known to locals as Charity Alley.
Of 20 businesses along the 100-yard pedestrianised stretch, eight are now charity shops. One is empty and one is a pub. Tim Smith, who runs a country sports store founded in 1812, says the charity shops have ruined the street’s character and has called on the city council to intervene.
He said: ‘If they were licensed in the same way as, say, a sex shop the council would have control over which ones can open and could say no. This was a busy street but they are killing it. The way it’s going, I fear that in five years there won’t be any independent shops left.’
Mealcheapen Street, which dates back to the 17th century, was once described as one of Worcester’s finest. As well as Mr Smith’s F. Durrant & Son, it still has several independent stores, including an opticians, tobacconists and travel agent.
But over the past 15 years, eight charity shops have sprung up. Mr Smith says the fact they get an 80 per cent discount on business rates means they are ‘crowding out’ small businesses. He said: ‘The council say no one else wants to trade there but if they were offered the same discounted rates as charities they would.’
Across Britain the number of charity shops has grown in recent years and there are now more than 11,000.
But while second-hand stores are thriving, many retailers are struggling – as high-
lighted by the Mail’s Save Our High Streets campaign.
In 2004 Mealcheapen Street was featured in a guide on the best places for independent shops.
But 14 years on, many have gone. The latest was The Paintbox art shop, which closed last year and is now Birch Hill Dog Rescue.
The premises occupied by Sense was previously Osbornes stationers, a 200-year-old business which went bust in 2014
The Blue Cross animal charity shop at No18 was once a butchers then a takeaway deli. No21 – now Oxfam – was once the City Carpet Co. No7, one of two shops run by St Richard’s Hospice in 100 yards, was historically the Red Lion Inn.
The street was also home to a branch of Boots, Fine Fare and Walsall Shoes while Barnardo’s was Rosemary’s health foods.
Worcester City Council said it cannot control the number of charity shops because it is up to private landlords to decide.
Shops generated £295million for charities last year, but Government figures show the 80 per cent discount on business rates costs local authorities £1.9billion a year.