Over recent years the UK's high streets have faced a gloomy cloud lingering over them; the decline of shoppers eventually forcing over 10% of shop closure. Not only many high profile business' such as HMV being forced into liquidation but my heart must go out for those smaller entrepreneurs and their companies who are left drowning in this shopper drought. 

Walking down any high street whether it's Sutton, Croydon and quieter towns such as coulsdon, it is not only easy to see a change in shops but it is obviously apparent the shell of a previous shop left dust collecting from after being chased out of business. This is due to loss of spare money that people are able to buy with and a change in shopping habits that the high street is no longer needed. Online shopping is easier, with a wider range of stock, more convenient with the main draw being it's cheap prices. So, who can blame us as a consumer for turning to the cheaper, convenient option which is just as good quality? 

However despite the perks- surely it must be a shame to see our once loved high streets turn to run down ghost towns something like seen in a movie. BHS sadly closed it's doors for the last time in the past few weeks after 88 years of service to our high streets, and yet this closure is so common these days that barely anyone battered and eyelash or turned head at this major change to Britain's high street. 

After asking around at why people don't high street shop anymore a major point raised which I personally didn't expect is 'the inability to just pop in to shops anymore'. Drivers are now faced with extortionate prices with car parks high profile places such as the Kings Road costing around £14 an hour. And lets be honest, who shops for as little as an hour? And along with this, who would pay £14 for parking when you can buy a top for cheaper than that including post and packaging online. Due to these many factors a staggering 46,000 shops across the UK have been left dormant for 3 or more years. I personally find this statistic saddening as you can't help but empathise with all those ex-shop owners who have had their shops seized from them due to a lack of income from changing of shopping habits and the heightening of competition leading to this inevitable closure. 

Lets take a step into the future. If we are constantly seeing a little rise in the fluctuation of shoppers and mainly a larger fall and shops continue to fall is it possible in years to come our communities and future generations will be clueless around what a high street is. Wouldn't it be ironic to think of instead of a family popping to the shops, they all gather around a computer and think about different websites to order from. This idea- as funny as it seems- isn't as far fetched as believed. Some mothers and fathers and children would prefer to do so rather than having the struggle of bringing the buggy out with children screaming instead of shopping from the comfort of their own home.

Overall, as saddening as it is, the closing of shops I believe is inevitable. Younger generations are as comfortable with online shopping as an Eskimo is with snow and why change a habit for a more expensive and time consuming option almost leaving our high streets stuck without a future if something doesn't change which online shopping can't create a better alternative.
 

By Holly Rayner, St.Philomena's