Former Woolwich town centre Smiths gains new occupant

The former WH Smiths and Post Office shop unit in Woolwich town centre has a new occupant.

I’m not sure it’ll drive much footfall and a search reveals they have another shop in Reading, and seem to mostly sell luggage and suitcases.

Much like another big unit nearby which saw plans go in for a B&M, but that never worked out.

Not that Greenwich Council’s senior staff writing up report for councillors seemed to know, based on one recently presented which gave the usual sugar-coated view that wasn’t accurate.

Far behind

Ultimately the town is still struggling and finding it hard to attract retailers that will bring visitors. I cover a lot of town centres on this site, and the contrast with most major south east London towns is stark.

Last week I covered Waterstones returning to Bexleyheath, following the company opening in Lewisham recently. They have shops in most big town centres in London.

Imagine them in Woolwich? It almost seems inconceivable. That’s how far Woolwich has fallen. But the thing is it needn’t be that way. It’s had the DLR extension then the Elizabeth line, yet still the town is on its arse.

Why? Greenwich Council are utterly incapapable of looking after the town, at a basic and fundamental level. They never have been able to which is why the town has seen yet another major upgrade they aren’t looking after yet again. See also the 1980s upgrade, the 1990s upgrade, the 2000/2010s upgrade and now yet another.

All ignored and failed.

I’ll cover the latest failure in a future post but goodness me is it all looking pretty dire.

Hopeless management and leadership is a long, long, long-term problem.

And that’s why a town that should be thriving can’t get people to visit its main shopping street and companies don’t want to be there.