The sad demise of the high street has been apparent for some time now, mainly due to the rise in online shopping. The impact of the pandemic has quickened that decline and now boarded up shop fronts can be seen in town and city centres across the country.
But it is still shocking to see the state of three of our best-known thoroughfares. Princes Street, Sauchiehall Street and Union Street are iconic, and not just for the residents of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
They hold special places in the hearts of people from across Scotland and beyond. These great, once-bustling, civic spaces have now gone from being the heartbeat of our cities to eyesores.
And because shopping habits have changed, it is unlikely they will ever be restored to their former glory. Something, then, must be done to help change, restore and revitalise these famous streets.
Creating an “avenue of the arts” in Sauchiehall Street could work in Scotland’s largest city. Reducing business rates to encourage more leisure use or changing planning law to convert former commercial areas into residential ones are also commendable ideas.
It is time for innovation and imagination before streets like the three which we highlight today decline any further.
Kate shows the way
Scottish mum Carolynne Hunter faced having to put her daughter in care because she couldn’t afford to pay extortionate energy bills. Thirteen-year-old Freya has cerebral palsy, is blind and needs oxygen for chronic breathing problems.
The cost of running her life-support equipment rocketed from £6500-a-year to £17,000. When Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet heard of the Tillicoultry family’s plight, she stepped forward to donate money to pay the bills.
The Reader and Titanic star told yesterday how the decision Carolynne faced had “absolutely destroyed” her. She said: “I thought, on what planet is anyone going to let that happen? This is completely, completely wrong.”
Winslet is right but it shouldn’t take a Hollywood star to step in to prevent a child being taken into care because her mum can’t pay the bills. Not enough is being done to protect vulnerable people from fuel poverty.
Too many are at the mercy of the markets. Our governments have stepped in to help but what is being done does not go far enough to prevent millions from being left behind.
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