Recession? What recession?

by Chris Johnson. Published Sun 01 Mar 2009 14:10

Spring has sprung... the snowdrops are bobbing thier heads in a gentle breeze and even the miniature daffs in my garden have burst into bloom.

Why then, I ask myself, does it feel like we are still in the long dark winter of 2008/09? Answer: the recession is still with us!

So, how long will this recession last and how are we going to get out of it? The politicians are fond of telling us it is all about "regaining consumer confidence"... the message being that it is OUR fault, not theirs!

I don't want to be a prophet of doom, but a nasty suspicion is growing in my mind that this is not a recession, but a long-term re-adjustment in the world economy, and therefore there is no easy fix.

There are many factors that come into play, but to my mind the most salient factors are that we now have a truly global economy and that so much retail trade and leisure has switched, or is switching, to the Internet. We simply don't need Woolworth's and their like any more. Get used to it. I think we are going to have to accept that the high street is dying.

Now, a little bird tells me that following the honeymoon period, Liverpool One has seen a massive drop in visitors and trade. Hmm, makes me wonder.... it could so easily turn into a shopping ghost town - like the Lowry Outlet Village, in Salford, which is dead on its knees and the Grange Precinct in Birkenhead which is full of pound shops and cafes.

But how long will it take for local government to react to these profound changes in the economy and shopping habits? I'm afraid they will react with too little, too late.

Councils should be pulling out the stops to encourage people to use our town centres, by reducing parking charges and relaxing restrictions on movement.

In fact they are doing the opposite!

Extending the parking meter charges in Liverpool is a disaster for the city's bars and restaurants. The meters introduced in Birkenhead to replace the old, sensible Disc Zone, are another disaster - with many bays always empty.

It's time the town hall mandarins and councillors woke up to reality.




Comments about Recession? What recession?

Recession is a word like boom is a word But if you have nowt Recession and Boom We can live (just) without.
Rooney - A better finish than Wane., Cheshire around 1 year, 4 months ago


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