| Rod Wallace said he believes the McLeish Brothers delicatessen, closing so soon after Woolworths, will damage the high street — and its reputation as an alternative shopping destination packed with independent stores and boutiques.
The chairman of the community council has also spoken of his concern that the high street is now being taken over by second-hand charity stores.
Speaking today, Mr Wallace said, “I’m very concerned about the high street in its present state.
“The uniqueness of Brook Street and Gray Street offered something different to shoppers and I fear it is like a chain — if one link goes, then you start to lose more and more.”
He added, “I think everybody has a lot of sympathy for the loss of jobs at McLeish’s. It was a well used shop and it is going to leave a big hole, without a doubt.
“It is a sad day and I hope that the administrators can find someone to take it on.”
The former Fyvies women’s store on Brook Street is still empty, despite being fully refitted, and Mr Wallace said he hoped a new shop would open there sooner rather than later.
“It is disappointing no one has been able to put their head above the parapet and say they are taking it over,” he said.
“If it was a supermarket it would attract people to the area and that might give banks the confidence to help keep those other small traders going.”
Fellow Ferry councillor Ken Guild said he believed the high street was strong enough to weather the current economic climate.
“I’m very confident the former Woolworths store will be snapped up by a supermarket but I am rather more concerned about the McLeish Brothers’ store.
“Hopefully the administrators will find somebody interested in it.”
George Ferguson, chairman of Broughty Ferry Community Council, said high street was now being overrun with charity shops.
“I think the Ferry will survive but what I don't understand is why these two shops have had to shut.
“Every time I’ve passed them there have been plenty of people in and they definitely didn’t seem to be running at a loss.
“The problem in Broughty Ferry is that every time there’s a closure a charity shop jumps in.
“There are rumours that Iceland is contemplating taking over the old Woolworths and Tesco may take over Fyvies, but McLeish had a cafe and was the only fishmonger in the town.”
Another Broughty Ferry councillor, Derek Scott, said, “I would like to express my sadness at the loss of jobs created by the closures of both the McLeish shops and Woolworths earlier on in the month.
“However, the Broughty Ferry community always rallies together in support of local shops.
“Broughty Ferry has strong independent retailers who form the backbone of the town and I would hope that they can weather the current economic climate.
“The existing community spirit and the strong Traders’ Association should pull the Ferry through.” |
