Why do high-street shops keep closing?
a walkthrough with stand-ins — a demonstration, not a finding · 12 certified links · outlined boxes are the roots · tap a claim to read it in full
Showing every action the room judged: it acts directly on 3 of the 4 root causes. It does not act directly on 1.
Rent is due quarterly in advance, which a new business cannot fund → Charity shops pay lower rates, so landlords prefer themShops open at ten and close at four, after most people are at work → The market moved to Wednesday and the shops' best day went with itThe town's website lists shops that closed years ago → Events are organised by volunteers who are burning outTraders' association meetings are attended by the same five people → Shops open at ten and close at four, after most people are at workYoung families shop where there is a toilet and a place to park a pram → Festival days bring people in and there is nothing to keep themYoung families shop where there is a toilet and a place to park a pram → Residents drive past the high street on the way to the parkGrants exist for shopfronts but the paperwork takes longer than a lease → Traders' association meetings are attended by the same five peopleEvents are organised by volunteers who are burning out → Festival days bring people in and there is nothing to keep themEvents are organised by volunteers who are burning out → Residents drive past the high street on the way to the parkShopkeepers say they were never asked before the one-way system came in → Rents were set when the street was full and have not come downShopkeepers say they were never asked before the one-way system came in → Festival days bring people in and there is nothing to keep themThe council's economic plan was written for the whole district, not this street → Events are organised by volunteers who are burning outRent is due quarterly in advance, which a new business cannot fundRent is due quarterly inadvance, which a newbusiness cannot fundThe town's website lists shops that closed years agoThe town's website listsshops that closed years ago②③what the shown actions do to this root causeREDUCED BY 2 ACTIONSYoung families shop where there is a toilet and a place to park a pramYoung families shop wherethere is a toilet and aplace to park a pramGrants exist for shopfronts but the paperwork takes longer than a leaseGrants exist for shopfrontsbut the paperwork takeslonger than a lease②what the shown actions do to this root causeREDUCED BY 1 ACTIONShopkeepers say they were never asked before the one-way system came inShopkeepers say they werenever asked before theone-way system came inThe council's economic plan was written for the whole district, not this streetThe council's economic planwas written for the wholedistrict, not this street②what the shown actions do to this root causeREDUCED BY 1 ACTIONRents were set when the street was full and have not come downRents were set when thestreet was full and havenot come downEvents are organised by volunteers who are burning outEvents are organised byvolunteers who are burningoutTraders' association meetings are attended by the same five peopleTraders' associationmeetings are attended bythe same five peoplewhat the shown actions do to this root causeNO ACTION ACTS ON ITDIRECTLYCharity shops pay lower rates, so landlords prefer themCharity shops pay lowerrates, so landlords preferthemFestival days bring people in and there is nothing to keep themFestival days bring peoplein and there is nothing tokeep themResidents drive past the high street on the way to the parkResidents drive past thehigh street on the way tothe parkShops open at ten and close at four, after most people are at workShops open at ten and closeat four, after most peopleare at workThe market moved to Wednesday and the shops' best day went with itThe market moved toWednesday and the shops'best day went with it
WHAT WAS PREDICTED TO FOLLOW
Each number on the map marks a root cause that action reduces.
① Count footfall on the street for a year, published monthly, before any other decision
we expect: whether the street is busier is a number rather than an opinion
measured by: weekday footfall on the high street, % change on this year
due 25 Sep 2027
guesses: the room: 5 (median of 15, spread -5 to 15)
② Two hours free parking on the street, paid for from the retail park's business rates
no prediction about this action yet
③ A register of who owns each unit, kept by the council and open to traders
no prediction about this action yet
A map from True Causes: a group’s judgement, not a measurement.