Newquay, the Cornwall town famed for its seven main central beaches and status as Britain's surfing capital, is being let down by a run-down town centre, according to a recent visit by Express reporter Toby Codd.
During a sunny afternoon visit this August, Codd found that while the beaches remain beautiful, the disparity between the buzzing coastline and parts of the nearby high street is stark. Empty shop units, eyesore hotels and dirty buildings occupy prime town centre positions.
Twelve empty shops counted
Codd counted 12 empty shop units in the town centre, along with a lack of care and maintenance of public spaces. He spotted unpainted seats and railings, derelict buildings and littered pavements.
Large vacant sites include the old Poundland store on Bank Street, which shut last August. Other recent closures include a standalone Argos store, Vodafone, Clintons and M&Co.
Hotels fall into ruin
Several major hotels have also fallen into ruin, including the Sutherland Hotel in the Mount Wise area, which has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour and squatters. Hotel Bristol, an iconic cliff-top accommodation, is at risk of demolition due to local concerns about its rundown state.
Earlier this year, Newquay ranked the 11th-lowest rated seaside town out of 135 locations in a Which? holiday survey. Its world-class beaches were praised by visitors, but the town centre dragged down the overall score to just 55%.
Locals say town has 'gone backwards'
Codd spoke with a number of locals and tourists during his visit, who all agreed the town centre was facing challenges. Local Alan Furnival said it has "gone backwards", while 80-year-old Bill McClure told him Newquay has changed since the 1980s.
The closed shops and downfall of prominent buildings lessen the attraction for tourists and damage the aesthetic of the town, Codd concluded, noting that resorts such as Newquay represent the decline of the British seaside holiday, with the neglected high street at the heart of that demise.
