Julian Graves in the Hart Centre is closing after trading there for more than a decade. Shop bosses say its because they cannot afford the price of the new lease and have no choice but to close. They say the new lease is too expensive in the current economic climate. They say they wish they could stay in Fleet. What do you think about this? Another nail in the coffin for Fleet town centre? (By the way, closing down sale in the store is offering 25% discount on top of normal disounts.)

By Lou_101 at 09:49 on 15/11/11

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There are too many empty units in the Hart Centre now, surely the centre management would be better off dropping the rental prices and filling the empty units on short/flexible leases? They need to take a look at London's pop-up shop phenomenon that started a couple of years ago and is a great success.

They should open some of the bigger units to stallholders, I'd like to see local craftspeople and artists selling in what used to be Poundland (I do miss Poundland...)

By Ginpoodle at 16:03 on 28/12/11
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I completely agree!! Have you seen Alexon Brands is also closing now? Although that is more to do with general trading problems for the whole company - 40 shops are clsoing nationwide.

By Lou_101 at 09:34 on 29/12/11
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And Millets too on the high street - hence the 70% discount. The whole company is up for sale,...

By Lou_101 at 09:38 on 29/12/11
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It is sad to see so many shops going..the centre is now beginning to look like a ghost town...maybe the remaining shops should all pull out back into Fleet Road..this would rejuvinate the high street and the centre could be changed to something else..maybe a cinema/bowling complex? So many shops are finding it difficult you would think the centre owners would be doing something to help keep their units full....what about concessions in the old Woolworths unit? you could get loads in there as its huge...If Waitrose goes, as there seems to be rumours that this could happen, then there really wont be much to go in there for...

By Cherry Blossoms Lingerie at 10:51 on 30/12/11
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I noticed this morning that the Picture Frame shop has now closed and that I have heard that Snip's is to close shortly.

By russellwilkinson at 14:29 on 01/02/12
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This means there will be TEN EMPTY UNITS in the Hart Centre pretty soon. La Senza has gone. Bon Marche is going. Will the last trader leaving The Hart Centre please turn out the lights????? I'm going to ask centre management what they plan to do to stop the decline and post their comments on here...

By Lou_101 at 18:01 on 03/02/12
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Peacocks in the high street is also closing. Have you seen their Facebook campaign in the shop window? All the staff in there are gutted about losing their jobs. One of them has only recently started there after being made redundant at another shop.

By MarlaShale at 18:04 on 03/02/12
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