More Ely Shops Close – What Do You Think Of The City Centre?

As another two shops close in Ely, can the centre of the city survive the recession and the proposed introduction of car parking charges?

In recent years many of the small independent shops of Ely's city centre have been struggling to cope with the impact of the recession. In January The Little Sweet Shop and watch sellers Two Ticks closed in the High Street Passage, meaning that together with the long-term vacant retail property owned by John Borland on the corner of the Passage and Market Street, there are now three empty shop units in a row on the High Street Passage. It is also only a matter of months since memorabilia store Lollipop Animation closed its doors for the final time just a few metres away.

It seems that it's not just the independents that are under threat. In the Cloisters, health food store Julian Graves Ltd is closing down (the shop unit is being taken over by Holland & Barrett, who will be moving from the High Street on February 17). The staff of nearby Bonmarche are hoping that a change of owner could help save the struggling clothing chain, while Peacocks is also currently facing an uncertain future, leaving shoppers wondering whether it could follow Currys and the defunct Woolworths out of the city.

Milletts is also due to close in Ely's Market Square. Other departures from the local shopping scene in recent years have included Fenland Music in Market Street and Ocean Cargo in the High Street.

With Ely now rich in coffee chains, banks, charity shops and supermarkets, what will be the future of the city's shopping centre if the council gets its way and introduces car parking charges later this year, as expected?

Let us know what you think about Ely's shopping centre and tell us about the existing shops that you love and share some stories about those we've loved and lost in the past. Comment below with your opinions and memories…