I OFTEN see comments and have read articles on how Bournemouth town centre is in a state of decline and how fewer people are shopping, trade is down, etc.

I see this being blamed on various aspects and often it’s around the price of car parking, lack of transport/central bus station, increase of bars and pubs instead of higher quality shops or venues being opened which are perceived as being tacky.

But I have experienced for myself another reason why the town centre may be slowly becoming redundant and it’s a self inflicted issue by the very shops themselves.

I have always liked our town centre and enjoy visiting it.

Last week I went into town to do some Christmas shopping.

My wife had made noises about a particular hairdryer she wanted for Xmas so I went off among the crowds to secure what I thought would be an easy purchase.

It turned out to be very different than I expected, as none of the shops I visited had the item in stock.

Out of the seven shops I enquired in, every single sales assistant knew the exact item I was looking for.

Apart from one store, which doesn’t stock the item, every single other shop all told me the exact same thing which was to buy it online.

They even told me this was an easier option. This wasn’t a case of they had it and sold out either, they actually don’t stock it and want you to use their online service instead.

Needless to say, after seven shops, I gave up.

Upon arriving at home I found the item online easily enough and had it delivered free next day. This was exceptionally convenient and easy just like all the sales assistants said it would be, but you can’t help but see that this is not helping their cause when they complain of flagging sales or lack of people in town.

What do you honestly think I am going to do next time I want a specific item? Spend the morning trudging around town and pay for parking or sit in my lounge for five minutes on my laptop and get it delivered free to my door?

ALEX GIBBS Lascelles Road, Bournemouth