Bustling high streets were once the lifeblood of towns up and down the country, but in one part of Yorkshire a depressing picture shared across the nation is unfolding.
Huddersfield, in West Yorkshire, is a proud former mill town with a vibrant rugby league and football culture that should have a thriving centre packed with shoppers and visitors.
But according to YorkshireLive, retail in the town has been hit hard with over 10 units currently standing empty in the pedestrian section of New Street alone, and more businesses set to close soon.
In January it reported two bars were calling time, as well as a brewery, and even a branch of the fast-food giant KFC.
The closures were adding to what some labelled a “thoroughly depressing” outlook for the town, which is home to over 140,000 people.
Peter Wilson, 62, told YorkshireLive he thinks that the town centre’s best years as a retail destination are in the past and he admitted being “cynical” about it.
He said: “It thoroughly depresses me. People of my age, if they are truly honest, they would say the same. I am just dismissing the retail side of Huddersfield. It’s never to be seen again.”
Fellow resident Carl Morris said the problem could be the rents for businesses being too high, adding begging and anti-social behaviour “puts you off” coming to the centre.
He added: “It used to be a friendly place. It is not a welcoming place since Covid. Nobody wants to talk or smile.”
Adding a brighter note to the grim assessment of the area, Carl’s partner Lisa said she was a big fan of the second-hand market which is held on Tuesday and Saturday at Huddersfield Open Market in Brook Street.
And shopper Aung said he was a fan of Primark and Home Bargains in the town centre, but that he wants to see more entertainment venues in the area for his family.
He said: “If we visit Leeds, you feel excited, but in Huddersfield it is not exciting any more. We need more things for kids and for a family to enjoy.
Aung added that if people keep being drawn away to Leeds and Manchester for a day out, Huddersfield “will die a death.”
