Traders in Granby Street, Leicester, want action to help 'dead' city centre route
Business owners are concerned at the number of empty shops in what used to be a busy street.
At least 16 shops and offices in Granby Street, Leicester, are empty.
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Two of the empty shops in Granby Street
Jaswinder Lidder, owner of City Surplus Army and Navy outdoor clothing and equipment store, said: "Six years ago, the street was still quite vibrant.
"This used to be the main shopping street in Leicester but since then many businesses have either stopped trading or moved.
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"The vacant shops bring the tone of the area down and put off shoppers."
Fabio Vassallo, general manager of San Carlo Italian restaurant, said: "This is supposed to be the city centre and it doesn't look good."
Another retailer, who did not want to be named, said: "I don't see the point in even talking about it – Granby Street is dead."
Recent companies to move out or close include Game Station, La Tasca restaurant, Blacks, Burger King and Cecil Jacobs.
Jessops is moving to the former Clinton Cards store in Gallowtree Gate.
The closures come despite a revamp which saw £3 million invested by the city council in paving, road layout and cycle lanes and the filling in of the underpass near the railway station.
But shoppers and visitors were unimpressed.
Emma Billingham, 20, a student who lives in Leicester's West End, said: "I don't normally come down here – it's not a nice side of town.
"The roads have improved, but they could have spent more on improving shops."
Julie Harrison, 45, of Leicester, said: "The street looks a bit run-down and dead."
Christine Guthrie, 63, of Oakham, said: "It looks like a rough area to me, judging by all the empty shops."
Mr Vassallo said: "The city council did the right thing by resurfacing Granby Street but after three years of disruption from the work, businesses need help – reduced rates would be an idea, at least in the short-term.
"The council also needs to do something to improve the appearance of the empty shops and deal with the piles of rubbish in alleyways."
Khalid Mohamad, manager of Wisla supermarket, said: "There needs to be an action plan to promote business.
"This should be a very good area right in the city centre."
City councillor Neil Clayton, whose Castle ward includes Granby Street, said: "I think the improvement works have made a huge positive difference.
"The reason for the lack of occupancy is the economy."
Fellow councillor Patrick Kitterick said: "There is cause for optimism in the long-term.
"When High Street was pedestrianised it took a couple of years to get going, and I think it will be the same for Granby Street."
Sarah Harrison, city centre director, said negotiations to reopen a number of empty premises were taking place with solicitors.
Comments
by Lesterscouse
Monday, March 11 2013, 3:35PM
“I believe that the reason Granby street and other similar streets in Leicester are failing is because of the council using motorists as "cash machines" in regard toparking, speeding, going into bus lanes and box junctions etc.
it's becoming a nightmare to come into Leicester and get caught for something.
My wife and I love to walk around towns which are welcoming, Leicester isn't.
So,I shop on the internet, less hassle!”
by handymanphil
Saturday, October 20 2012, 5:34PM
“What is the point of moaining about the decline of our chief shopping area when you have a labour run council that simply spend, spend, spend on creating 'shopper movement' whenever they feel like it? What did the construction of the Shires & Highcross mega complex set out to do?.....corner the customer base (no pun intended). All the shop owners in Granby street, Charles Street etc should simply close down as the rents and rates are ridiculously high for a "no shopper area" - perhaps then, and only then, the goons in the council will start to realise that 1 x John Lewis does not make for a bountiful basket of fruit!”
by mwrigh17
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 1:34PM
“The City Council local plan recognised over 20 years ago that the expansion of the Shires/High Cross area would detract from the South side of the city. Take a look at Gallowtree Gate once the heart of he City Centre. The Council planned for a major redevelopment between Belvior Street and Bishops Street (Townhall Sq) or between Granby Street and Charles Street. The Coucil can't build it but they can recognise it is required to balance the City Centre retail offering and facilitate it's consruction.”
by ian_anstey
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 11:18AM
“Granby Street has been in decline for perhaps 30 years, certainly down towards the station. Have people only just noticed?
The underlying problem in town centres generally is that large chunks of money that used to be spent there now disappear out of town, or onto the internet. And this is exacerbated, though not caused by, the recession. This means that less shops are required to meet demand, and Leicester city centre has far too many shops for what customers need these days.
The best quality space with the best footfall, and most attractive retailers (Highcross) will survive, and the rest will struggle. Granby Street is just one of several streets that needs to be included in a major re-think. If not retail, then what?”
by 4_Stroke
Wednesday, October 17 2012, 9:06AM
“karinfall1955.. . What you refer to are the strip malls which are like Fosse Park Most downtown areas of major cities have the same problems as here, the only difference is that they plan for parking better. In Chicago there is a large network of underground parking available. Shops have the same level of access as here. It is obvious that the cost and availability of parking will affect where people shop. Granby street is dead because there is no reason to go there anymore. The City has two faces, day time (shopping) and night time (bars and clubs) In the US more shops open later in the morning and stay open into the evening so that it's possible to stay in town after shopping has ended and then go to a bar. We have a gap as the town empties at 6:00.The one thing the US does know and thats how to get people shopping.”
by Stinkypete13
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 9:14PM
“1st of all, the feeling of 'run down area' can be attributed to a certain pub on the corner of Dover st and Granby st where you have to run the gauntlet of foul mouth drunks in the middle of the day, thank the £1 a pint mentality and the wet house round the corner...
Secondly how many mc chicken fakery takeaways can one street sustain.fast food outlets follow drinking holes, one leads to the other.the council and police need to take a tighter control of licensing, and street drinkers with dogs on strings need to be moved on and even banned from these areas.The 1st impressions for any new visitors arriving by train must be pretty grim...clean up the streets, the good retailers will follow..!!”
by karinfall1955
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 6:21PM
“4Stroke. Begging your pardon but when I holidayed there some years ago (not in a major city) the residents did seem allergic to walking and their girth confirmed it. I do accept they are not all the same though.”
by 4_Stroke
Tuesday, October 16 2012, 1:41PM
“karinfall1955... that is a simple misconception/prejudice. In major cities such as Chicago and New York you have to pay to park in a general car park and walk just like anywhere else, I know I used to work in downtown Chicago.”
by karinfall1955
Sunday, October 14 2012, 11:03AM
“@llamalamb. Regarding research in the USA saying higher charges for parking lead to lower footfall. There is no footfall in the States. If they could drive INTO the store they would do so. That is why they waddle rather than walk. My friend and I walked half a mile to a store and back, they were aghast.”
by theoracle18
Saturday, October 13 2012, 2:29PM
“The problem is the rates are too high!”