We hit the High Street on Tuesday, chatting to shoppers and independent retailers on Seaside. We met a 30-year-old parrot, and spoke to barbers, beauticians, and confectioners. It’s tough out there. The rising cost of goods and services is hobbling local businesses. The shabby state of that end of town is putting shoppers off. There’s empty, boarded-up shops and litter and graffiti. There’s obvious signs of drug misuse. The once-mighty Debenhams and TJ Hughes are derelict.
It’s such a shame. Labour has a plan to revive the high street, including scrapping businesses rates, putting more cops on the streets, tackling retail crime, and empowering local community groups to buy sites such as Debenhams. This could be a real asset instead of an eyesore. It could be the launchpad for new businesses, for co-op retailers, for local entrepreneurs. Eastbourne needs change – starting with a change of MP.
