Oh my Lord - decimated High Streets.

Maybe one of the eight or ten building societies in my High Street could make way for a decent butcher - and I promise I will shop there provided Dewhurst don't think they qualify.

David, Dubai & PL12, UAE & England

considering that labours only regeneration of towns and cities has been through shopping is it any surprise that 1/5 shops could go bust. they have completely forfeited the dotcom boom by mistaking SME's for entrepreneurship. they think that a barbers shop is the equivalent of a dotcom or engineer

will, grimsby, uk

why would anyone want to shop in high streets in the west end or kensington
there is a complete lack of affordable parking and you have a traffic warden waiting lurking on every corner waiting to pounce
the government needs a total rethink if it wishes to avoid future ghost towns

Terry, London W4, England

Had a weekend break in York in October. It already felt like 20% of the units were closed on some of the pedestrianised streets. Mainly the shops for local people (e.g. food shops, estate agencies).

Alex, Cheltenham,

We all have to move with the times and look for new opportunities. So, the writing is on the wall, what are YOU going to do about it. Hopefully more than WHINGING to the Government about your bad luck and DEMANDING that THEY do something.

It is YOUR problem, YOU fix it.

Bob Travels, Stevenage,

Ghost towns when the recession ends? they're ghost towns now...

paul cooke, gloucester,

Where are these deserted high streets? Winchester was packed out yesterday , with people shopping.

Andy, winchester,

How about using them for a chain of not-for-profit stores selling healthy well-priced seasonal UK-sourced fresh food, particularly in poorer areas? Guarantee low rent to the retailers running them. This would help solve the obesity problem, boost local enterprise and UK farmers. A huge opportunity!

Robert C, London, UK

In the place of the empty shops they will put bars and discos. The High Street will be for drug peddlers, prostitutes & knife weilding youths. Cabot Circus, Westfield White City and Bluewaters will be the replacement of the High Street. Instead of wealth distributed the wealthy will be more wealthy

Robert Winter, San Sebastian, Spain

Nothing to stop retailer of any size selling via net, mail order, print collaterals etc.
Take the products/brands to the target consumers.
Sales polarity has changed. Customer no longer come to you. You must go to them.
Physical shops confined now to giving brand tangible expression.

Leigh Vernier, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Perhaps people will start living in town and city centres again.

SusanHill, Chipping Campden, UK

Cabot Circus is not a brand new centre, it is redevelopment of an existing shopping area, and seems to be mainly clothing shops. Logical as clothes don't fit well into the internet model, but makes a boring shopping experience.

andrew, swindon,