Neston: The future of the high street

The street has become quiet, with many having to leave the town to run basic errands and pick up necessities.

Although new businesses are opening, the future of the high street looks uncertain for many in the community.

Deborah Shone, 65, was born and raised in Neston. She has worked in a range of jobs on the high street for 47 years including Peggys' Bakery when she was 14, Harrison Brown chemist and now Clive Watkins.

She worked at the post office from 1976 until it was sold.

Speaking to the Globe, Deborah said: "It was the hub of the town. It was busy. Everyone got their pensions and family allowances.

"Neston is full of hairdressers, solicitors and coffee shops now. 

"Sometimes I walk from the bottom to the top and think 'we've just got nothing'. You can't buy anything."

Deborah explained that her dad, who lived and died in Neston, wouldn't recognise the town.

She said: "We used to be able to get anything we needed. Rumbelows sold fridge freezers, cookers, the lot.

"My dad wouldn't recognise the place, he'd be really sad if he saw it now.

"Even the Friday Market has changed beyond recognition. The sad thing is there used to be a lot of footfall and now there isn't. I watched people driving out of Neston at the weekend when I'm working."

'It's been and gone'

Yasmin Quinn, owner of TIG, has worked in her shop for 20 years and said the main issue is footfall.

She said: "I would say footfall has dropped by about half in the past 10 years. 

"There is a lack of post offices and lack of banks and because of that I think less people come to the area and go elsewhere.

"Going to the post office in Little Neston is hard for older people if they can't walk there."

READ > Film crews spotted in Parkgate for new series of Sexy Beast

When asked what the future holds for the high street, Yasmin thinks "it's been and gone".

She added: "We've lost the time and that was when Sainsbury's was built."

Kris McFarlane, owner of community charity shop, Shop4Neston, said that the trade on Neston high street is "slowly dying out".

He said: "This is because there is a lack of joined-up thinking from the Council and planners."

Kris, who was born and raised in Neston, compared the high street in his childhood to now.

"The high street has declined quite massively to be honest. That is due to the lack of independent and multiple retailers.

"All of the empty premises could be used for useful things that the community actually wants. The mixture of retailers is just not quite right."

Council response

In response to the article, Mayor of Neston, Pat Kynaston, and Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, Louise Gittins, said: "Neston is a town, like many across the country, that has been impacted by a growing tend to shop on line and at major out of town retail centres. We have traditionally been a small, independent, business town and profit margins have been eroded significantly by the above trend as well as supermarket shopping.

"We are fortunate that we have had a thriving market since 1728 and this continues to offer a wide range of staple foods, clothing, household goods, and interesting additional choices.

"All of the business premises within the town and in the outer areas of the Parish are privately owned so the Town Council and CWaC have very little influence in who chooses to come to the area. Many of these are owned by remote landlords who have very little interest in the town so charge unaffordable rents for profit. Business rates are set by national government.

"Over recent years traditional shops and shopping have been replaced by a social culture with cafes and restaurants offering opportunities for people to get together and socialise and spend some time in the town. There continues to be great independent shops too and its important we all get behind them to help them thrive.

"Banks are closing across the country and although there were discussions with the banks in our area, prior to closing, they made their decision on a business - not a social - basis. However, there is now a new model of shared premises with the major banks agreeing to come together.  This is very much a new concept and we are looking at whether this could work within the town, however this is not a quick discussion.

"The Town Council did announce last year that we are negotiating for a Post office service on a part-time basis and we are anticipating being able to announce a start date in the near future.  

"We also have a fantastic voluntary community that supports a range of social activities within the Parish. It's great to see two of our Community Arts organisations setting up on the Highstreet bringing a new and different vibe to our town. We have a thriving library and a town park.

"It's interesting that during a consultation before Covid a significant number of young families said they had returned to Neston to bring up their families in an area that had great schools, a healthy environment and low crime statistics.

"The overall view: Neston Parish is a great place to live."