‘I don’t think there is a way with greatest number of Back’ – life in the city closed shops in UK
According to the think tank Centre for Cities, Newport has the most closed units in all of Britain, and the traders aren’t surprised by the news. Jonathon Hill reports
AS A child, Mike Turner would often help out at his dad’s butchers shop in the market. But he had no idea just how popular it would become. He wasn’t even a teenager when he first donned an apron and got behind the counter of the Newport institution.
Now, the family-run butchers that’s called Newport market its bustling home for more than 60 years is enjoying a “new lease of life” up the road in Risca – where Mike says life is much easier.
Many traders have followed Mike out of Newport over the last ten years, but probably none as high profile as him and his family. For the traders left in the city centre life is now tougher than ever.
New research released this week by Centre for Cities revealed that Newport is thought to have the most closed shops in the UK by area – with more than one-third of its centre closed permanently.
The independent think tank found that a lack of high-skilled jobs limited the demand for local businesses. As the pandemic continues and the cost of living rises, people have less disposable income to spend in shops and restaurants, and more high street units stand empty.
Now retailers have described how parking, pedestrianisation and antisocial behaviour have contributed to what they see as the city centre’s downfall.
AD Turner & Sons was originally opened in Newport market in 1961 by Mike’s father, Tony. When the pending opening of a new market was announced three years ago, Mike said he looked everywhere for an alternative spot in Newport.
“I was looking for a long time when I heard the market was changing hands,” he said. “I searched Newport high and low for 18 months, but there was nowhere people could get to me, where I could get deliveries in the day, and where I could get deliveries out to people.”
The introduction of Friars Walk shopping centre in 2015 put an end to the city centre being used by buses, cars and taxis. The days of nipping to the shops in town were over for many – and Mike says his trade never recovered until he left the city.
“If anyone wants to get to Newport city centre now the only car parks are Friars and Kingsway, and then people have to walk wherever they need to go,” he explained. “The only access I could get for deliveries was between 6am and 10am. Newport used to be the gateway to Wales, but now all you see is barriers.”
Covid has exacerbated the issue for traders. Owner of the Pot Cafe in Newport Arcade Angela Roberts says further pedestrianisation of the city during the pandemic has worsened footfall again for her business.
“High Street and Cambrian Road have been cut off since 2020 to allow hospitality to serve outside,” she said. “I have voiced my concerns [to the council] but it was tough luck.
“Now there is no access after 10am, so not only have the buses been stopped altogether, there is no access for deliveries. So basically High Street and Cambrian Road are totally cut off from vehicular access. It’s a disgraceful situation.”
Also in Newport Arcade is Lesley Skiffington with her homeware and cookware business, Heart of the Home.
“I had a few customers today,” she said. “It’s lonely sometimes. I try to stay positive and plod on but I can sometimes sit all day and have one customer in. It’s lonely sometimes.
“It’s a shame because I know I sell high-quality products, but I don’t think people know I’m here. I do all the advertising, but we feel cut off here. I hope the buses can be allowed down here again. Now the pubs are open [with fewer restrictions] why can’t we have the road open to the buses again?”
The arcade is next door to a newly refurbished Victorian market set to open in March with a food quarter, office space and stalls.
“They’re saying it’ll bring 1.5 million to the city,” Lesley said. “You’ve got a job getting 10 people down here some days.”
Centre for Cities data shows that from March 2020 to September 2021 suburbs outperformed city centres considerably. City centres lost 28 weeks’ worth of sales, while suburban areas lost nine weeks’ worth.
But Mike believes comparisons between Newport city centre and Risca are more stark.
“It’s clear to me – Risca is how Newport used to be, and what a good town should be,” he said. “It has four banks, a post office, independent shops, a Lidl, a Tesco and a Morrison’s. Risca shows that small independent businesses can survive next to the big boys when the car is accepted and when people can nip to town to see us.
“I can do deliveries at whatever times I want and I can receive deliveries whenever I want. There are no barriers for traders here.”
A spokeswoman for Newport council said the authority is writing to Centre for Cities to question the report.
“Further clarification has been sought from the Centre for Cities as there is a significant discrepancy between the data published and the survey the council itself undertakes of vacant spaces, which in May 2021 stood at 22 per cent,” they said.
Each trader the Western Mail spoke to for this piece was asked about rising rent and rates combined with predicted increased costs of running a business in the next financial year. No-one said bills were their major concern.
“Remember, the bills have always been there,” Mike said. “A business survives if the customers are there. The amount of customers who have come back to me in Risca who I lost ten years ago in Newport is unbelievable. They are happy to travel to see me if they can get to me without having to walk very far.
“Pedestrianisation hasn’t worked in Newport. It might be a little more pleasing on the eye, but how is a business going to remain when there is no-one coming in?
“When you try to drop people off in the city centre there are enforcement cars fining you in seconds. There doesn’t seem to be an apparent dropoff spot. All these things add up.”
Seventy-five-year-old shopper Edward Portal – who has made the journey from Newport’s Friars Walk station to High Street – pulled no punches when asked what he thinks about the city centre he grew up in.
“It’s a dump. Beirut might be better. It doesn’t have a good bus route to drop us off. I’m from Bettws and transport into the city is not good. The shopping experience is poor. Pound shops, second-hand shops, charity shops, Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Express, M&S Express.
“As far as I am concerned the market will be a white elephant because the buses aren’t going past.
“The best thing about Newport at the moment is the M4 to Cardiff and the other way to Cwmbran.”
Newport’s location once served it well as the “gateway to Wales” but its location now is more of a hindrance, according to some traders.
Tracy Stokes, who has worked in retail all her life and owns La Belle Femme, off John Frost Square, also has a shop in Cwmbran – arguably Newport’s main competitor. Cwmbran is often lauded as considerably better for shoppers, but Tracy said traders still face challenges there.
“It’s free parking in Cwmbran,
which attracts shoppers, but it’s only free because traders are paying high rents and rates,” she said. “The traders are paying for that parking, so it’s not all good news in Cwmbran.
“I’m not stupid, when things were normal Newport was and still will be a commuter hub. If Newport centre offered free parking all day it would get abused by workers travelling to Cardiff and Bristol.
“But if Newport offered an hour’s free parking that would attract shoppers to the high street and make us a bit vibrant again.”
Experts predict that city centres will soon be places where people visit for hospitality and leisure rather than for retail. We saw these changes begin to evolve long before the pandemic. Newport is home to thriving retail parks at Spytty and Docks Way. Just this week retailer Newlife opened its first Wales store in the latter.
As pub-goer Chris Thomas points out, changes in Newport’s main High Street and Commercial Street over the last decade show a clear changing landscape.
“Leeway [retail park] gets many more people than you’d see down here in the centre,” he said. “Now it’s pubs and places to eat, and I think it will carry on like that. The shopping experience is rubbish.”
Centre for Cities research states: “In weaker city centres, policy must focus on creating more attractive places where high-skilled, high-wage businesses can be based. This will lead to high-skilled, high-paid jobs and a market for hospitality and retail.”
A spokeswoman for Newport council said: “There is strong evidence that to ensure the long-term success of city and town centres, there must be a balance of leisure, residential, hospitality, business and retail. Projects such as a new leisure facility, flexible office and development spaces, modern living and independent shopping are already cultivating this healthy mix in Newport.”
Dr Richard Smith, an expert on global cities and associate professor in the department of geography at Swansea University, recently spoke to the Western Mail about Newport city centre’s struggles after Admiral announced it was moving away from the city.
“Small towns and cities are likely to lose out because they are where many firms’ secondary offices are located. The headquarters and larger offices of firms tend to be in the biggest cities and the functions of smaller offices are more easily absorbed by larger offices,” he explained.
“The convenience now of online shopping – a consumer habit now more ingrained due to the lockdowns – means that city and town centres must be places for socialising, entertainment, and experiences.”
But traders who have worked in Newport for more than 30 years do not believe the city currently has the ability to entice prospective businesses to move in to offer those experiences.
Marie Wheeler, 60, gave up her business The Curtain Company based in the old market a year ago this week.
“I ran a successful business in Newport for 30 years which lasted that long because I didn’t rely on Newport people,” she said. “Luckily I had a niche business which people travelled to use. But by the end of it I was the poo, urine and vomit remover from the front of my premises.
“My personal life, my sanity, my family’s life, have all been compromised – not even compromised – quite ruined. I didn’t feel I had the support as a trader in Newport to stop what was happening.”
Annette Farmer, who ran the flea market, which has also now closed, and has operated her jewellers in the city for 34 years, says she is certain anti-social behaviour concerns and rising crime is what is putting tenants off taking on leases.
“I have had thousands of pounds’ worth of damage to this shop recently,” she said. “The doors got done a couple of weeks ago too.
“The crime levels are going up. Every time I look on social media someone’s bike has been stolen or a shop has been vandalised. It’s a never-ending story.
“I don’t feel safe. It keeps me up at night. I feel intimidated by it – if you speak out you get your windows put through. I’m reporting things every week on this street and I shouldn’t have to be.
“I’m 52. If I was 60 I’d be gone. It breaks my heart to say that because I’m Newport born and bred and I love the place. But something needs to change.”
Mike added: “This is something that cannot be blamed on Covid. Covid was the end result. This is what has been created over the last 30 years. I cannot possibly see a way back for retailers.”
Gwent Police inspector for central Newport Shaun Conway said: “We’re committed to tackling anti-social behaviour and any behaviour that negatively affects the quality of life for residents in Newport.
“Operation Ashton has been established alongside our partners to address individuals committing antisocial behaviour in Newport.
“The individuals are identified and attend the police station to participate in a four-week intervention course. This intervention course consists of educating the perpetrators to prevent further offences. If the course is successfully completed and their behaviour changes, we will not press criminal charges.”