South Wales Evening Post
29 June 2005
Up to 50 shops in Swansea city centre are boarded up, closing down or advertised to let, a Post survey has revealed. The majority are in The Kingsway, Oxford Street, High Street and the St David's Centre. But others are scattered right across the city centre.Tourism bosses say they are worried the sight of empty buildings and businesses closing gives a negative impression and does little to attract people to the city.They are calling for a flagship development to try to reverse the trend.The snap survey by the Post found strings of closures leaving a trail of emptiness in their wake.Mike Jones, treasurer of Tourism Swansea, said today: "Swansea has so much to offer, but seeing all these empty buildings certainly has an impact on tourism."We have to sell the city in a professional manner, but that is difficult when you have shop fronts boarded up."It does not give a good impression to visitors."Investment in the centre is what is badly needed," he added."We need a flagship development which would then attract other businesses to the area, especially following the closure of David Evans."Swansea City Centre Partnership was established by the council and local businesses to promote the local economy, and the organisation identified improving the environment of the city centre as a major priority.But a council spokesman said that while they accepted there were a number of shops facing the end of their retail life, much was being done to address the situation.He also revealed that seven vacant properties in the city centre had been reoccupied during May, after six had reopened in April."In all town and city centres, there is a need for a number of vacant properties to provide both movement within the property market and opportunities for retailers to relocate or expand", said the council spokesman."However, vacant properties can also have a negative impact on people's perception of the city centre. A major priority of Swansea City Centre Partnership is to improve the environment within the city centre," he added."To this end, proposals have been drafted both to reduce the number of vacant properties and to improve their appearance.""Recent developments at Salubrious Place, and the proposed plans for the old David Evans store site, have attracted leading retail and leisure chains."Swansea is a city with major developments underway and a focus of inward investment".Shopper Anne Smitham, of Killay, Swansea, said yesterday: "The David Evans closure has been a big setback."I tend to go to Cardiff or even the out-of-town shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol for major buys these days."It is a great pity.''
