Peebles High Street is among best in Scotland

Published 10 Feb 2012 09:30 4 Comments

PEEBLES High Street is holding its own despite the current economic uncertainty.

In figures released this week by the Local Data Company, the High Street scored 4.4% - the second lowest shop vacancy rate in Scotland.

It was only bettered in Scotland by the Argyll seaside town Dunoon which scored 2.5%.

Paisley meanwhile scored lowest with 26.7% while the capital city Edinburgh scored 11.1%.

This is compared to the UK average of 14.3%.

The Local Data Company visited over 2,700 towns and cities, retail parks and shopping centres between January and December 2011. Each premise was visited and its occupancy status recorded as occupied, vacant or demolished.

The total number of shop premises surveyed was in excess of 196,000.

Peebles Community Council chair David Pye said: "This is terrific news for the town. It's a great shot in the arm to know that we're doing better than anywhere else in Scotland other than Dunoon but obviously we still cannot afford to be complacent.

"There is a diverse range of shops on the High Street which makes the town an attractive place to both shop and do business. However we should not think that we can rest on our laurels instead we should build upon such good foundations.

"When you drive through other towns you do immediately realise the high number of vacant shops."

Local Councillor Graham Garvie also welcomed the news.

He said: "This is great news although we've always known that Peebles has a very strong independent retail environment."

Speaking of the figures, Matthew Hopkinson, director at the Local Data Company, warned that town centres much adapt to thrive.

He said: "The reality is that the odds are stacked against a positive take up of shops and as such the new reality of 48,000 empty shops is here to stay unless an alternative use or purpose can be found.

"Technology is driving consumer behaviour to a world of engagement, entertainment and the ability to shop where, how and when we like. Town centres need to adapt to this changing environment if they are to survive and thrive."

Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the British Property Federation, said: "Today's figures show that while some high streets are thriving, others remain locked in a spiral of decline. To turn these areas around will be difficult and will need landlords, retailers and local authorities to work closely together to adapt to changes in the way we shop.

"There are a number of proposals on the table for tackling declining town centres and we believe it is vital to stop talking and get on with implementing them as quickly as possible. Bringing empty shops back into use by allowing conversion to residential is one that could be implemented quickly and easily."

Tweet

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 10 Feb 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  bill3459
  15 posts
  Feb 10, 12:53
  Report comment

  instead of giving your selfs another pat on the back get a bloody grip . Take away the charity shops on the high street and there would be nothing left other than the odd tumble weed. Listen to what people ie visitors to the town say its a dam disgrace to say we have a bustling street we have a street full of junk shops. And the ones that are not junk shops charge that much for goods due to one of the highest rates charged in Scotland. Its cheaper to go in to Gala Edinburgh.So shame on you to say we are doing well
  
  Recommend?   Yes 93     No 4

• 

  alx569
  Unregistered User
  Feb 12, 15:18
  Report comment

  Bill3459, Peebles High Street is one of the best in the country, as this article highlights. Your comments are insulting to local entrepreneurs whose shopss occupy Peebles High Street and to those who work hard to make sure we are not surrounded by vacant outlets. As for your claim that it is cheaper to go into Edinburgh or down to Gala, you should be ashamed of yourself for not supporting local enterprise and the town in which you presumably reside. Your negative comments cast a shadow over what is very positive news for the town and the surrounding area. Well done.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 71

• 

  hazelkaye
  226 posts
  Feb 21, 19:53
  Report comment

  Dunoon's got nothing! So Peebles is a very poor second!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 18     No 0

• 

  hazelkaye
  226 posts
  Feb 21, 19:57
  Report comment

  PS Paisley, at the very bottom of the scale is surely wrong!
  
  Has anyone ever seen the likes of the "shopping provision" in the likes of Ardrossan, Larkhall, Kilsyth, Johnstone, Port Glasgow, Linwood, Bellshill, Carluke to name but a few?
  
  Recommend?   Yes 16     No 0

Post a comment

Your Comment:

Registered users log in here

Username or email

Password

If you are registered with us, you can login here. If you are not registered, do so now.
Once logged in you wont have to complete word verification each time you post.

Prefer not to register?

Screen Name *required

Email (not displayed) *required

Usernames must be 4 - 20 characters. Registration only takes a few minutes. Registered users can also take part in competitions and other features of the site.

Word Verification:
Enter the text as shown.

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @peeblesnews