Closing Time

This week has seen the collapse of several High Street shops across the UK, at the same time that shops selling non-essentials may (in some areas) open after a month closed. Northampton's last remaining department store, Debenhams, closes in a few weeks' time. The town centre's last two supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsbury's) go in January 2021.

The UK's town centres were failing before the pandemic. Perhaps they've served their purpose and a major rethink is necessary.