Another one bites the dust

.....and litter 

My nearest big town is Reading. Apart from the Oracle Centre and John Lewis, the majority of town centre shops which remain open seem to be Betting Shops, Cash Converters, Pound Shops, Pubs, Dodgy Phone Shops, Charity Shops, Kebab and Chicken Fast food outlets......a sad state of affairs for a once prosperous town......all this is not helped by the lack of parking and the exorbitant charges for the spaces that are available. 

A very sad state indeed Edward and I think you will find that to be the case in most cities, it certainly is here in Hull. All the shops you mention are here, charity shops open for a time and close down, usually when the free rental period is over!!!!! Kebab and Pizza shops all vying for the same business don't seem to last long. We hada really good Pizza shop a couple of years agoe, he sold up and someone else took over spent 1000's on doing the place up, pizzas were nowhere near as good as the previous encumbant and the new shop has now closed ! ! ! ! And you are absolutely spot on about parking prices. They want people to comeinto town to support the shops, but don't have reliable public transport and parking fees are as you say exorbitant. The city councils around the country really need to get their heads screwed on and ask the people what they want and give it to them. But if that isn't a pipe dream I don't know what is...........

Yes Dave, the Councils really don't get it. They push up car parking charges and business rates...hey presto...empty office buildings and third-world high streets.