The cost of living crisis: Are bristolians worried about the future of the high street?

2023 has seen the closure of many independent and chain retail stores. But are locals concerned about the future of the high street?

Transcript

00:00 2023 has seen the closure of many high street retailers. From larger chains such as Wilkinsons

00:10 and Banks to smaller businesses such as Closterhouse and Troost in Clifton Village. Many locals

00:18 have expressed worry for the local high street. Let's find out what the people of Bristol

00:24 would like to see added to improve the Bristol high street.

00:29 Good parking because I know that there's a problem with the issues over parking. So

00:36 good parking would be really useful. Yes the banks are closing. I hope that my bank doesn't

00:42 close because that's the last one here. It's nice just to have amenities like the vegetable

00:49 shop and chemist. Chemist is one thing we're missing now actually from Westbury Village.

00:56 So a chemist would be perfect. Well the bank have just left of course. NatWest Bank has

01:02 just left as you know. But I'm a member of Lloyds. That's useful to have because as an

01:10 older member of the community I like to have at least some banks, banking facilities in

01:16 Westbury I'm sure. I like the variety of places like Gloucester Road for example. That's where

01:22 I go a lot. In fact I've just been disappointed that Co-op has stopped selling parcels. Not

01:29 Co-op, yes just Co-op. So I think, yeah I don't know, good quality variety really. And

01:39 maybe a few less of the big chains. Well I like the shops that are here already. Obviously

01:48 you know the Greengrocer's great and I use Amplifon and the Jewellers. I live in Shirehampton

01:54 and there aren't these things there. But it's a shame about the banks obviously. I'm sure

02:00 everybody says that. The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a rise in online retailers and online

02:09 shopping. Over the past few years e-commerce has become an indispensable part of retail.

02:17 As with many industries, buying and selling goods has undergone a large transformation

02:23 following the accessibility of the internet. With the rising cost of living, many local

02:30 businesses have opted for online retail in order to keep costs lower than maintaining

02:36 a high street store. But are locals worried about the decline in the Bristol High Street?

02:44 Let's find out. Definitely, definitely. I mean I like to buy local if I can. Particularly

02:52 support local independent shops as well which is nice. But I do go online as well but I

03:00 try and respect the local shops and support them.