Saddened to see yet more stores close

Bow Street now feels like something of a ghost town and with this week’s announcement that Peacock’s is set to close, Bow Street Mall is also losing another retailer.

Bow Street now has almost as many empty shops as it does those still trading. In recent months we’ve seen the closure of The Body Shop, Priceless, Top Shop, as well as the city losing Captain Cook’s and Cash Converters not to mention the many shops in the historic quarter and Lisburn Square, whilst the Mall lost Mace, O’Brien’s and the Half-Price Jewellers.

Lisburn City Centre has prime retail space lying empty, and at least one store has been waiting to be filled for years since the shop closed. What hope is there that we will see these numerous buildings occupied? What actions are Lisburn City Council and the City Centre Management taking to ensure our city doesn’t die altogether? The retailers who remain must certainly be worried for their future and concerned that our city will no longer attract shoppers, vital to their survival.

Each day we hear the bad news that yet more stores are closing their doors, losing good local workers and spreading more misery. Something needs to be done before it’s too late.

Concerned Resident