But today I found a walk round depressing with the number of shops shut and too much horrible graffiti on display.
I read an article recently (can't remember where) suggesting that we may eventually get back to some form of normality but city centres will never return to their heydays. And looking round Norwich you can see why. Over a relatively short space of time we have lost British Home Stores and Debenhams and we don't know as yet whether our John Lewis store will survive.
Many smaller shops are shut and laying empty. This is illustrated by some of my photographs. I didn't even go down St Stephens or in the malls where there are more empty shops. So what does this all mean? The article suggested that more people will live in city centres, but there will be less shops.
On the surface, this may sound like a contradiction but it's not when you think about it. It is unlikely that the shop situation will be arrested but many people will chose to live in the historic centre if more and more flats/apartments are provided.
The whole of the waterside seems to be in development with new apartments springing up. So it is likely we will see more people living in the centres and shopping online - this changing the make-up of the centres.
It is depressing to see all the "To Let" signs though. The question is just who will take the premises on or will they just stay as an eyesore, unloved and uncared for?
I felt rather ashamed to be deliberately taking photographs showing the worst side of our city, but felt it was necessary to provide a balance with the usual "pretty" photographs. Maybe it would be better if I struck a balance between the good and the bad rather than taking all good and then all bad. At least there are a few more attractive shots in my latest gallery. I won't post them with my usual comment of "I hope you enjoy some of my photos." On this occasion I will just say "I hope some of my photos make you think."
One of them did remind me that London Street was the first pedestrianised street in the country.
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