Woolies’ last day

Jan 6 2009 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TODAY is a sad day with the final closure of Woolworths, bringing the curtain down on decades of happy memories for shoppers.

The demise of the store chain marks the departure of a once much-loved mainstay of the British high street.

We may lament the ending of Woolworths, but it was an inevitable passing of a once-great name that had been overtaken by a new retail world.

Some people will express concern that the closure will leave a worrying and sizeable gap in Huddersfield town centre.

Once, and not so long ago, it would have been said with confidence that the premises will not stay vacant for long – occupying, as it does, a prime site and with a sizeable floorspace.

Now, in harsh times when our economy is almost at rock bottom, all old certainties have vanished.

It is a stark reality that our town could be saddled with an empty building for quite some time – a potent reminder of recession Britain.

Nobody, it seems, can do anything about that – but the very least we expect is that the authorities move quickly when the inevitable comes and unsightly flyposters cover the windows and doors.

Bargain hunters have been flocking through the doors on Woolies’ last days.

Let us hope it is not too long before they’re returning to welcome in new tenants.