We all look on with dismay every time an empty shop appears on the high street. But just how many empty shops are there? And should we be concerned?

Our quick survey of the high street shows that the numbers of empty shops in Sydenham Road is 9.4% overall – a 2% rise since the same time last year. 9.4% is roughly equivalent to the average for suburban high streets nationwide.

So no need to panic yet - but little room for complacency either.

SURVEY

We have divided Sydenham Road/ lower Kirkdale into 3 sections:

Kirkdale end – from the plumbing shop to the railway bridge

Total number of shops: 22

Empty shops: 4

Percentage of empty shops: 18.1%

Sydenham Road “core” shopping area – from the railway bridge to Mayow Road, including Sydenham Station Approach

Total number of shops: 96

Empty shops: 6;

Percentage of empty shops: 6.25%

Sydenham Road east– from Mayow Road to the ISTANBUL food store

Total number of shops: 52

Empty shops: 6

Percentage of empty shops: 11.5%

Overall results:

Total number of shops: 170

Empty shops: 16

Percentage of empty shops: 9.4%