The Decline of Rugby Town Centre
Over the past few years Rugby town centre has experienced a real set back in how popular it is as a place to be and a decline in how many people populate the local businesses.
In September I took it upon myself to survey Rugby town centre, counting its available retail outlets that remain in business versus the empty retail units that have either been abandoned or show no signs of being utilised. In total I counted a number of 408 units, 361 of which were occupied and 47 were left bare and empty.
What this means for the town centre's capacity to relive its past glory as a bustling hive-mind of community is unclear. However, what can be inferred from this is that the town's status as a location for local, independent retailers is being neglected as Big Business thrives and Local Business suffers.
There is speculation as to what can be done. As a potential solution, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Admirals and Cawston in the 2015 local elections Lee Chase proposed that there ought to be a mixture of "retail and entertainment facilities" to help make the town centre a "destination for families." Chase's proposal would, I think, fix a problem Rugby's business is seriously lacking: unity. Due to the amount of distance between what is Rugby town's two main locations for shoppers (Elliot's Field/Junction One and the town centre) shoppers are forced to choose between the two locations. As it happens, Elliot's Field is receiving a lot of the custom as well as a lot of the retail outlets that people want. A very recent example of this (as the Rugby Advertiser reported) is Marks & Spencer's departure from Rugby town. This will mark a huge impact on the town's appeal as a place for people to shop because M&S is definitely one of the more popular businesses, and I myself have heard many people express disappointment over its relocation.
Although a solution does not seem to be materialising in the very near future, I propose to extend Chase's own theory by suggesting that Rugby town centre not only adopt a mixture of retail and entertainment facilities but to make sure that these outlets are businesses that will attract people such as those that appear on a Birmingham or Coventry high street. Couple this with a bus route between Elliot's Field/Junction One and the town centre and Rugby town centre could soon see itself revitalised.
James Edwards
James is a graduate of Aberystwyth University and lives in Clifton-upon-Dunsmore
Editor's note:
- You can read Lee Chase's personal contribution to the debate here http://rugby.lib.dm/a1ZTG
- You can read the Rugby Liberal Democrat's official response to the Borough Council's consultation here http://rugby.lib.dm/a410jL