Can our High Streets survive the pandemic?
During one week in lockdown, we spoke to local traders on Deptford High Street. What follows is snapshot of how many small local businesses are struggling to survive Covid
Deptford Highstreet. Pic: Isabelle Walker by Eastlondonlines/ April 6, 2021/
By Niamh Houston, Caitlin Tilley and Isabelle Walker
It was a normal week in lockdown, and the usually bustling and vibrant Deptford High Street was quiet. Many of the shops were boarded up, and some seemed to have permanently closed down. Shoppers were few and far between, even during the lunchtime rush, and the shops that were open were almost empty. It was clear the high street had been hit hard by the pandemic, and on the day we took our snapshot – March 5 2021 – 102 of the 167 businesses were closed due to lockdown restrictions; that’s 61 per cent.