“The town centre was absolutely beautiful … You would be ashamed to bring someone here now. In postwar Britain, high streets became the thriving hubs of a more affluent society and a source of local identity and pride. But it correctly identified a geography of discontent where faded provincial high streets had become a symbol of Westminster’s neglect, and a lightning rod for wider grievances. But support for commercial retail should be complemented by a drive to establish high streets as hubs for social interaction and civic activity. As the Guardian’s reporting from Newton Aycliffe illustrates, a declining town centre is often experienced as a crisis of communal self-esteem.

Source: The Guardian February 04, 2026 11:32 UTC