REDDITCH residents have hit back at social media personality Rick Gannon after he visited the town centre, in his latest ‘death of the high street’ video series.
The entrepreneur was encouraged to visit the town, after making videos on neighbouring Bromsgrove and Kidderminster, and said Redditch was ‘not the worst he had seen’.
In total he recorded 41 shops that were closed in the Kingfisher Centre, on Alcester Street, Market Place and Unicorn Hill, much lower compared to Kidderminster’s 73.
Rick said the main issue was the size of the Kingfisher Centre, and the way shops are spread across the town.
Residents took to social media in their droves, saying that the video was negative, and there was still plenty to do in Redditch.
Former leader of the council Coun Sharon Harvey said: ” This guy is making money from pointing out closed shops. I use the town centre regularly- there is lots there!
“Does he have any answers? No. He just moves on to criticise another town.”
Another said: “You know I’m just sick of the negativity Redditch constantly gets.
“The death of the high street is not just a Redditch issue it’s a regional/national if not global issue. And people are the cause of it.
“We stopped using small local independent shops in favour of large department and supermarkets, we stopped using large department stores in favour of online, and now we are stopping using customer checkouts in favour of the click and go options.
“We stopped using cash points in favour of pat by card. And we are doing it knowingly, all the time blaming everyone else. This town is as good as its people, and if you’re not loving this town then move on.”
- WHAT do you think of Redditch town centre? What do you think should be done to improve it? What shops would you like to see coming to the town? What do you think of the market? Email: [email protected] with your views.
