The fishmonger’s and greengrocer’s here went twenty years ago and have been replaced by a succession of shops, some of which have survived and others that have gone to the wall. There’s been one consistent and apparently successful trend however all the time I’ve lived here (more than thirty years) and that’s the increase in restaurants (both the indoor and the pavement ones), coffee shops and the larger pub chains. The central market has always been pretty busy and to add to that there’s now a farmer’s market in the High Street every Friday (where you’ll find a fishmonger, greengrocer and baker among other stalls).
In a nutshell, people now go into town principally to enjoy themselves not to shop (though they might do a bit of that while they're there as well). The main household shopping for most is done at one of the supermarkets where parking is free, close to the store, and where you can get everything (except a decent sit-down meal) you’ll need for the week ahead. Struggling town centres have to ask themselves what the punters want. It’s not principally goods anymore it’s a place where they can enjoy themselves.
New planning went in to expand the shop which were approved. They now have an in-store chemist, clothing, fresh meat counter, fresh fruit, fresh fish, car accessory dept, bakery and booze by the bucketful and in doing so have virtually wiped the town out and to add insult to injury have erected a beautiful sign as you leave the store suggesting we pay a visit to Launceston while in the area!! Thousands of us protested when the initial planning was submitted but the usual ploy exploited by Tesco was used. New improved road layout funded by them and local schools to be given money to improve their conditions. The empty shops are now charity shops and about the only thing you can get in town now that they don't sell at Tesco are fish and chips and a Chinese take-away!