'Everything’s leaving': Sheffield's high streets gutted by vacancies Read moreThe first big blow was the crash of 2007-08. Last week, the Guardian published new research covering 88 towns and cities, based on Ordnance Survey data, that highlighted how extreme all this now is. In England and Wales, the average town centre has lost 40 shops since 2013. The latest round of planned closures includes shops in such places as Boston, Cwmbran, Weston-super-Mare and Hull. As banks close their branches, places lose not just symbols of local commerce but a vital service for businesspeople.

Source: The Guardian February 04, 2019 06:00 UTC