Robert Buckland Weblog

A terrible day for the traditional High Street as Woolworths goes into administration.  Part of the problem with this venerable institution is that too many of its premises are situated in places that have been left behind by out of town shopping developments and gleaming new shopping centres.  My home town of Llanelli had a thriving Woolies in Vaughan Street, which used to have M and S, Boots and WH Smith.  Woolworths sadly stands alone now, and I have no doubt that the shoppers that used to pop in when the street was at the heart of the shopping centre no longer bother.  Town planning has much to answer for, I think.

Perhaps many of us will now flock to Woolies – some out of sentiment, others to look for closing down bargains.   My concerns are with the thousands of staff members, some of whom have been with the Company for many years, who are now being made redundant.  The same has to be said for everyone at MFI.  A temporary VAT giveaway by a desparate Labour Government will not make the difference, frankly.