- Posts: 349
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2015 4:54 pm
Sun Aug 09, 2020 10:32 am
Most obviously coronavirus casts a shadow over everything at the moment and one of those quandries is the plight of city centres. There has been quite a lot of talk about London, the effect of no commuters on sandwich shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. We all know the scheme that has been launched. But how far should we be going to save (or prop up) city centres be it London Cardiff or anywhere else.
If there are fewer people commuting and less food/retail spending in central Cardiff is that the worst thing in the world? I was walking around yesterday and the pubs in Pontcanna seemed to be doing a fair trade. I imagine that is true of many other suburbs. If more economic activity is taking place in the local high street (or online) why should we worry?
I'll go further. Many of the major businesses in the city centre are huge multinationals with interesting tax arrangements. Now I know the 'local pub' can often be owned by similar such entities but it strikes me that a declining city centre might have benefits for smaller businesses who are more likely to be based elsewhere.
If economic activity moves away from central London towards the suburbs and home counties, why would this be a bad thing. Likewise for Cardiff. Prices in central London are crazy anyway, it might actually lead to less inequality. Now much of the spend in central Cardiff is not from people in Heath/Rhiwbina but Pontypridd and Hengoed. You can see why the elites might want to row against the tide like King Canute but I hope they don't.
Finally should we be trying to prop up the restaurant business? If people wish to use more of their discretionary spending on other things - like for instance home improvements if they are going to be working from home (energy efficiency, extensions, loft conversions) are we honestly saying we'd rather they were spending money in restaurants instead? Other pats of the economy would have the chance to thrive.
If there are fewer people commuting and less food/retail spending in central Cardiff is that the worst thing in the world? I was walking around yesterday and the pubs in Pontcanna seemed to be doing a fair trade. I imagine that is true of many other suburbs. If more economic activity is taking place in the local high street (or online) why should we worry?
I'll go further. Many of the major businesses in the city centre are huge multinationals with interesting tax arrangements. Now I know the 'local pub' can often be owned by similar such entities but it strikes me that a declining city centre might have benefits for smaller businesses who are more likely to be based elsewhere.
If economic activity moves away from central London towards the suburbs and home counties, why would this be a bad thing. Likewise for Cardiff. Prices in central London are crazy anyway, it might actually lead to less inequality. Now much of the spend in central Cardiff is not from people in Heath/Rhiwbina but Pontypridd and Hengoed. You can see why the elites might want to row against the tide like King Canute but I hope they don't.
Finally should we be trying to prop up the restaurant business? If people wish to use more of their discretionary spending on other things - like for instance home improvements if they are going to be working from home (energy efficiency, extensions, loft conversions) are we honestly saying we'd rather they were spending money in restaurants instead? Other pats of the economy would have the chance to thrive.