Marks and Spencer's

[Jack2jack]

Closing its doors in the city centre permanently at the end of next month.
Despite negotiations with the Council on trying to save its future here.

 

[jack123]

It’s a shame, I do blame it on the way public transport into the city centre has changed, also the poor parking. Anyone struggling with mobility issues are always going to take the easier option and choose where they can get near.

When I was a nipper, used to get a bus home from town, right outside BHS on Princess Way, which I guess would be directly opposite where Slaters is now, and it was absolutely thriving then.

 

[Smurph]

I popped in to town yesterday, I can see why M&S are leaving.

 

[Pentyrchjack]

The failed FTR bendy bus experiment ruined the city centre with those one way systems that halved passing traffic on streets like Mansel Street. No wonder Studio 95 closed...

 

[Neath_Jack]

Another institution gone, never to be replaced. However it’s down to our shopping habits, online shopping is king in the modern era.

 

[Jack2jack]

It’s a shame, I do blame it on the way public transport into the city centre has changed, also the poor parking. Anyone struggling with mobility issues are always going to take the easier option and choose where they can get near.

When I was a nipper, used to get a bus home from town, right outside BHS on Princess Way, which I guess would be directly opposite where Slaters is now, and it was absolutely thriving then.

It's way more complicated than just the points you mention, I agree they haven't helped. It is a shame, and the closure means an end to department store shopping in the city centre. I counted up at least 8 department store that have now disappear from our high street, including the Coop, BHS, Littlewood, to name bit a few. They say that the current building does not fit in with their current business needs, and I believe the council owns the building and its freehold.
It's another draw for the centre of town that has disappeared, very sad.

 

[Jack2jack]

The failed FTR bendy bus experiment ruined the city centre with those one way systems that halved passing traffic on streets like Mansel Street. No wonder Studio 95 closed...

It was always a disaster waiting to happen, and I said it before a spade was put in the ground. Terrible decision.

 

[jack123]

It's way more complicated than just the points you mention, I agree they haven't helped. It is a shame, and the closure means an end to department store shopping in the city centre. I counted up at least 8 department store that have now disappear from our high street, including the Coop, BHS, Littlewood, to name bit a few. They say that the current building does not fit in with their current business needs, and I believe the council owns the building and its freehold.
It's another draw for the centre of town that has disappeared, very sad.

Honestly, I don’t think it is that complicated, just take a look at Parc Tawe, Morfa, Troestre, and any other multiple unit places that offer free parking. they are are congested as hell Mon-Friday and peak periods they are becoming a bit of a no go , unless you go at 8am.

People say the competition is online shopping, and that’s why shops are closing, but go to any of the retail parks and it’s getting a bit of a chore to park.

 

[Jack2jack]

Honestly, I don’t think it is that complicated, just take a look at Parc Tawe, Morfa, Troestre, and any other multiple unit places that offer free parking. they are are congested as hell Mon-Friday and peak periods they are becoming a bit of a no go at 7am.

People say the competition is online shopping, and that’s why shops are closing, but go to any of the retail parks and it’s getting a bit of a chore to park.

Exactly so, and its a point I've made consistently over the years that out of town retail parks have had a massive impact on town centre foot fall. Which is why I said it's more complicated than just the bus services and the cost of parking. The irony is that councils across Wales are complaining about the demise of the city centre, when it was their own planning departments that signed off the developments in the first place. It may have been better to integrate those type of developments into towns and cities rather than isolate them away from the centres. As has been said a million times, internet shopping has had a massive affect, of that there is no doubt.

 

[JackSomething]

Exactly so, and its a point I've made consistently over the years that out of town retail parks have had a massive impact on town centre foot fall. Which is why I said it's more complicated than just the bus services and the cost of parking. The irony is that councils across Wales are complaining about the demise of the city centre, when it was their own planning departments that signed off the developments in the first place. It may have been better to integrate those type of developments into towns and cities rather than isolate them away from the centres. As has been said a million times, internet shopping has had a massive affect, of that there is no doubt.

Out of town retail parks were absolutely the first serious blow that city centre retail took. Then the rise of internet shopping was the death knell, it's just a very long and drawn out death we're seeing.

Interestingly when it comes to out of town retail parks, M&S closed their retail park Swansea location in Fforestfach some years ago. I would imagine it would do better if it was in a bigger retail park like Morfa.

 

[Jack2jack]

Out of town retail parks were absolutely the first serious blow that city centre retail took. Then the rise of internet shopping was the death knell, it's just a very long and drawn out death we're seeing.

Interestingly when it comes to out of town retail parks, M&S closed their retail park Swansea location in Fforestfach some years ago. I would imagine it would do better if it was in a bigger retail park like Morfa.

I called into Fforstfach a few weeks ago, and to be honest, even that place has nose dived over the past few years. And as J123 said places like Trostre, Morfa and Mc Aurthur glen are bouncing most weekends.