A chance encounter with a Swedish couple in Middlesbrough town centre has highlighted the stark reality of high street decline. The tourists, en route to the Esk Valley railway, were baffled to find numerous shops closed on a Friday morning.
Shocked Tourists
Mieka Smiles, a Conservative councillor, recounted the conversation in her Express column. The couple asked if it was a special day, to which she had to explain that the closures were permanent, not due to a holiday.
She pointed out the vacant Marks & Spencer store, noting that Next, Debenhams, and Binns had also vanished within a 500-metre radius. The Swedes were dumbfounded, wondering if the UK economy was to blame.
Shoplifting and Safety Concerns
Smiles was in town to discuss the rising shoplifting rates, which make shoppers feel unsafe. She argues that retail parks are becoming more attractive due to safety concerns, despite lacking character.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made high street revival a priority. Smiles advocates for scrapping business rates and a zero-tolerance approach to theft, including ending the £200 rule that allows minor thefts to go unpunished.
Personal Anecdotes
In lighter news, Smiles shared her guilty pleasure: a fried egg sandwich with copious tomato sauce, which drew mixed reactions on Twitter. She also mentioned a survey showing 85% of Brits feel overwhelmed by their to-do lists, with top tasks including cleaning the oven and sorting the junk drawer.
