Perth High Street has suffered a fresh blow after it was announced Oliver Bonas has closed for good.
The clothing and lifestyle store’s closure follows the loss of other shops and cafes to the area, including Debenhams.
Shoppers in Perth expressed their sadness at the high street’s decline as businesses continue to struggle since the coronavirus crisis.
Thomas and Kerstin Mcleary told The Courier that the whole city centre needs totally done up.
Thomas said: “The shops that close leave their windows a mess. I don’t know how they get away with leaving all their dirt and stickers like that. It doesn’t look good.
“It’s not just Perth — everywhere you go you see the same thing. The problem here is we’ve got too many second hand shops and too many cafes.
“All the main shops have disappeared.”
Kerstin added: “I think everyone is buying online now. It’s hard to keep the shops open.
“If everyone just went to the shops first before ordering online that would help them survive.”
‘Oliver Bonas is my favourite shop’
Susan Doig and Elaine Gray were visiting the Fair City from Dundee and had planned to visit Oliver Bonas.
Susan said: “We actually came through today specifically because Oliver Bonas is my favourite shop.
“We come through here because there’s nothing in Dundee. There’s more of a selection here, but it will stop me coming through if shops I like here are closing.”
Her friend Elaine said: “It’s disappointing to see shops like this closing on the High Street. It’s the same in Dundee.
“Lots of shops just don’t seem to exist any more.”
Lorna Davies, 60, feels there needs to be more variety in Perth’s city centre.
She said: “I’ve been walking along thinking I could go browse somewhere before my hair appointment, but there’s really not many places to go.”
Mother and son Scott and Moira Ferguson feel the state of the high street is “terrible”.
Moira said: “I feel sorry for people that have started small businesses, put everything into it, just for it to go belly up.”
Scott called on government to step in and help struggling retailers.
He said: “It appears that rents seem to be a bit high. Maybe some government help would be good for the high street.”
Perth natives Derek Moir, 56, and Joan Moir, 81 echoed many of the concerns.
More creativity needed in the city centre
Derek told The Courier: “I love Perth, I think it’s great and I grew up here but left when I was younger, coming back periodically.
“I’ve noticed it change over that time and, like the whole of Britain, it’s going through an economic crisis.
“Local authorities need a new and creative way to find how to use empty premises and regenerate.”
However, he expressed hope for the future, using the removal of the roof at St Paul’s church as an example.
He continued: “it was a real eyesore for the last 20 years but it’s absolutely gorgeous how they’ve done that.”
Joan agreed, saying: “I like that we can walk from the church all the way down to the Tay.
“I think we need less bright and trashy shops. It spoils the High Street.”
Oliver Bonas have been approached for comment.
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