Clacton residents voice frustration over 'dying town centre'

The Gazette spoke to locals to hear their concerns on what’s missing and what they fear could be lost next.

Regan Danso,25 (Image: Steve Brading) Regan Danson, 25, from Page Road, said: “It’s a shame we haven’t got any children’s shops or anything. No toy shops at all.

"And we don’t have any men’s clothing shops. I think there are still some women’s shops, and the restaurants stay quite busy, but a lot of independent shops are just going away. The ones we have now are just hanging on with difficulty.”

Paul Robinson,66 (Image: Steve Brading) Paul Robinson, 66, a retired carer from Wellesley Road, said: "I think there are just so many empty shops. The town is crumbling away. I saw a survey on Facebook that said Clacton is the worst place in the whole of Britain to live in.

"The business rates are so high, the Council keeps putting rents up, and shops can’t afford it. We don’t have clothes shops; we don’t have kids’ shops. I’ve been living here for thirty years, and before, everyone used to come down here. Now they don’t. I can’t even buy anything for my grandkids. It’s just all charity shops.”

Mrs Barbara Hunt,81 (Image: Steve Brading) Barbara Hunt, 81, a retired resident from Elmstead Market, spoke about the loss of essential services. She said: “The shops are all empty, I don’t know what’s left to go. It’s annoying. Half the shops are gone, the banks are going.

"The nearest bank is Colchester or Ipswich, and it’s all good for the youngsters, but we, the older folks, we can’t go online and do everything.

"The library is the new banking hub, but you need to queue for God knows how long. And they can’t always help. If you can’t drive, you’re stuck. Before, when I was a little girl, it was a lovely town, it’s so different now.”

Andrew Carter,56 (Image: Steve Brading) Andrew Carter, 56, a former Tesco manager from Rosemary Road, fears more closures.

He said: “It’s getting worse and worse. We have lost Barclays, we have nothing at all. You have the cheap shops, the pound shops, and one Sports Direct. There is nothing for men’s clothing at all. I am afraid there are just so many barbers around. We don’t need so many of them.

"We need good shops. We need the banks back. There are restaurants, but you can only go for a coffee so many times. And I don’t even use them. You walk around, see something, and then the next day, it’s gone.”

Despite the decline, some residents remain hopeful about the independent businesses that remain.

Albert Morton,92 (Image: Steve Brading) Albert Morton, 92, from St Osyth, said: “I think there’s been a change in the whole structure of the town centre. The shops are closing down, the banks are closing and moving away.

"There are so many pound shops and charity shops. We should hold on to the independent shops because they are so wonderful.

"Today, I went in to get my mower fixed and the shop owners were so helpful, they took care of it, and didn’t charge me anything. I hope these shops stay, there is a real sense of community here. But it is such uncertain times.”

Paul Groves,41 (Image: Steve Brading) Paul Groves, 41, a builder from Jaywick, wants bigger retailers to return.

He said: “I think all the shops are disappearing. Personally, I want to have more than one butcher. We would love to have bigger shops like M&S, a Primark.

"There’s nowhere but charity shops where you can get some clothes, get toys for kids. It’s quite bad, and you never know which shop might close next.”