Residents residing in an historic market city have slammed an inflow of second-hand shops amid claims it’s changing into a ‘charity store capital’.
A complete of 9 charity and second-hand retailers are buying and selling within the Northumberland city of Alnwick – together with two Most cancers Analysis retailers simply yards aside.
The traditional cobbled avenue of Bondgate Inside is dwelling to retailers run by the Salvation Military, RSPCA and native charity Lions Books.
Most cancers Analysis boasts two retailers, one subsequent to a department of Cats Safety and the opposite 50 yards away, competing with Oxfam.
On the identical street, and within the shadow of the world well-known Alnwick Citadel, are retailers run by canine charity Shak, Cats Safety, Thoughts and Oxfam.
And the frenzy of charity retailers continues to be ongoing – a brand new store in assist of Hospice Care has lately opened for 3 days every week simply yards from the fortress gates.
The Duke of Northumberland Ralph Percy, 62, and his spouse Duchess Jane, 60, reside in Alnwick fortress which starred as Hogwarts in Harry Potter, and in addition featured in TV’s Downton Abbey and Blackadder.
However the Duke, who’s shut associates with Prince Charles and is value an estimated £315 million, has been accused of not doing sufficient to advertise companies within the city – as a substitute drawing it away.
The city used to have a Threshers alcohol retailer, however the web site has since been a charity store department of the Salvation Military
Locals say Alnwick’s city centre has grow to be dominated by charity retailers and empty models, and native companies are struggling to outlive
Charity retailers such because the RSPCA are among the solely excessive avenue shops to have survived, after the Willowburn Retail Park is alleged to attract guests away from the city
Residents describe the city centre as a ‘ghost city’ and the ‘capital of charity retailers’, with 9 completely different shops within the city’s tiny centre
Streets that had been as soon as stuffed with thriving retailers now function empty premises and boarded-up eating places, whereas charity retailers proceed to open
The fortress’s personal web site states that the present Duke and Duchess have taken important steps to show the positioning right into a vacationer attraction: ‘In addition to managing the extra conventional property companies of agriculture, forestry and minerals, the Duke has overseen growth of the portfolio to incorporate planning and growth and business property.
‘Along with his Duchess, Jane, they’ve developed Alnwick Citadel as a big customer attraction whereas the Duchess has masterminded a backyard renaissance within the creation of The Alnwick Backyard.’
One enterprise proprietor, who didn’t need to be recognized, stated: ‘Alnwick ought to be like a mini York however as a substitute it is like a ghost city.
‘We have a world well-known fortress and grounds actually on our doorsteps however guests take one look across the city and get of their automobiles and go away.
‘There was a time when Alnwick was stuffed with little companies and cafes however now we have grow to be the charity store capital of the North East.
‘I do suppose the Duke ought to be doing far more to advertise the city and appeal to companies to commerce right here.’
Resident Janet Bennett, 50, stated: ‘There’s a view right here that guests come to the fortress and the retailers and eating places close by do not profit.
‘Alnwick Citadel is nearly like a bit of retail park in its personal proper, its obtained eating places, retailers and meals stalls so guests needn’t go into the city in any respect.
The Duke of Northumberland’s fortress is a vacationer attraction for the city – however locals say it’s a retail park and dissuades guests from venturing into the city centre
Ralph Percy (left) and spouse Jane, the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland, are long-standing associates of Prince Charles
The historic city dates again round 1,000 years, however regardless of its native attraction guests favour the Duke of Northumberland’s fortress as a substitute
Alnwick has two completely different Most cancers Analysis UK shops inside yards of each other – a truth resident Janet Bennett is up in arms about: ‘Simply what number of Most cancers Analysis retailers does one city want?
Alnwick Citadel was featured because the magical Hogwarts within the Harry Potter movies, and has additionally appeared in Downton Abbey and Blackadder
Locals actually aren’t wanting locations to take their pre-loved clothes and belongings, however are indignant the Duke of Northumberland hasn’t carried out extra to assist the city
‘A buddy lately visited me from London and he or she stated that for those who’re into cut price searching and second-hand garments then Alnwick is the place to be.
‘I believe it is an actual disgrace to see so many boarded up retailers whereas these charity retailers take over. Simply what number of Most cancers Analysis retailers does one city want? We have two for goodness sake.’
A spokesperson for Northumberland Estates, which manages Alnwick Citadel, stated: ‘Northumberland Estates is wholly dedicated to doing what it may well to spice up the native economic system.
‘Removed from detracting from the realm, each Alnwick Citadel and The Alnwick Gardens are massively in style vacationer sights, attracting a whole lot of hundreds of tourists to the city annually.
‘We work intently with the Alnwick Chamber of Commerce to encourage folks to go to Alnwick to buy, eat and drink.
‘We additionally work with native lodging suppliers and repeatedly converse with the city council and organisations reminiscent of Investing in Alnwick and All About Alnwick to assist wherever attainable and signpost our guests into the city.
‘Northumberland Estates is a significant investor and employer within the area, and we’ll proceed to do all the pieces we will to help native companies.’
Elsewhere within the city, which has a inhabitants of 8,000 and dates again nearly 1,000 years, as soon as thriving retailers, cafes and eating places lie derelict.
There are between 60 and 70 impartial companies buying and selling contained in the centre of Alnwick.
Lisa Aynsley, Chairman of Alnwick Chamber of Commerce, stated: ‘Not one of the retailers or companies closed for good attributable to Covid.
‘We had been capable of preserve 24 companies open throughout lockdown and after we got here out of restrictions the entire retailers and companies reopened.
‘We knew that the city could be actually busy with folks staycationing which actually helped folks get again on their ft.
‘There are a number of empty models however so far as I do know they’ve been bought and are ready to be stuffed.
‘We’ve a number of impartial companies within the city and naturally we would like to not have as many charity retailers but it surely’s really not a excessive share.
‘There are additionally a number of initiatives to encourage guests who go to the fortress and gardens to come back into the city by means of leafleting.’
A department of Dorothy Perkins shut within the city after the corporate closed all its retailers final yr.
The unit has since been taken over by outside clothes large Trespass.
In the meantime when the Iceland grocery store closed, it was changed by Yorkshire Buying and selling.
Half-a-mile from the city sq., the Ford storage lies empty after it closed earlier this yr whereas engineering agency Hardy Advances Composites, which employed 50 folks, is on the market.
The brand new Willowburn Retail Park, which is owned by the Duke’s Northumberland Estates, can also be blamed for drawing companies and guests away from the historic city centre.
It already hosts a big M&S Foodhall and Turnbull’s butchers have opened a store and deli on the retail park and a big B&M retailer is about to open subsequent yr.
Final yr Alnwick was named amongst a number of different cities in Northumberland to profit from a share of a £3 million regeneration fund.
Northumberland County Councillor John Benyon stated on the time: ‘On Alnwick, sure, they’ve the fortress and the gardens.
‘However the city centre is struggling due to the out-of-town purchasing. Additionally, because the gardens and the fortress aren’t within the centre, they draw folks away from the centre.’
