Town Centre Closures

Bo'ness is not alone when it comes to closures in the High Street.

Most small towns experience the same problems when the big boys come to 'play'.

Only last week in the Bo'ness Journal (Linlithgow Gazette) it was announced that the long-established toy shop Fun 'n' Games is set to shut its doors for good once all remaining stock has been sold.

That is expected to take place in April or May — and will bring the curtain down on the family-owned shop's 16-year stint in the town.

Town Centres under Threat

Our traditional town centres are under threat and it is often difficult to see a solution. There may not even be a solution.

Just as the big 'boys' are 'national' if not 'global' small towns need to approach the problem from a similar perspective.

It is less competition, now, from each other that is driving the decline but attack from other well organised groups.

Town Centre Co-operatives

Perhaps, organising in Town Centre Co-operatives, or something similar, by local business groups could provide a base from which to fight back providing support and strength in numbers.