A SHOPKEEPER on Bournemouth’s Westover Road has described the area as being on a ‘major decline’, as another business closes.

The road is traditionally dubbed as the ‘Bond Street’ of Bournemouth, due to its stretch of up-market shops.

In February 2017, ABC and Odeon cinemas left two empty premises as they were moved over to the new BH2 complex, causing concern among Westover Road traders as they lost out on footfall.

This week, the electrical goods store, Sony Centre, displayed ‘closing down’ signs in their window before shutting their doors on Friday.

Some of the neighbouring shops say they are not surprised to see another vacant unit appear.

Anthony Fuller, of Michael Matthews Jewellery which is adjacent to Sony, said: “The area is on a major decline.

“We are having daily problems with homeless people who appear every time another vacant shop appears.

“I moved down here from London eight years ago, and I can’t believe that people here call this the Bond Street of London – no way.

“People come from far to see us, as we are more of a destination, so we’re okay. But places like Sony where you can buy it mostly online, it just doesn’t have a place on the high street anymore sadly.

“There is just not enough of a voice for retailers here, because no one wants to listen to us.”

Owner of Rags Hair Design, Elena Cowie, told the Echo the salon is having to move locations after being established on Westover Road 35 years ago.

“The rent is too high, the road is in a very bad condition and there’s a lot of homeless people around, so we don’t feel like we can make a profit and people don’t appreciate paying high prices in a place like this.

“We would love to stay we just can’t afford too.

“So many shops have been closing down. When the cinema went all the main footfall went to the other side of the gardens. So, although there is a now a very nice area over there, this road is now dead.”

The hairdressers will be moving to a smaller unit on Old Christchurch Road next month.

In early 2018, Westover Road lost its two cinemas as they moved over the BH2 complex last February and has previously

Cllr Mike Greene, representing Bournemouth Central, said: “Retail town centres across the country are suffering very badly and seaside resorts even more so.

“Which is why the old Bournemouth Council really tried everything we could to encourage people to the town centre.

“We saw footfall go up in a single month last year and that's the way we hoped it would continue.

“Our job now as town centre councillors is to encourage the new BCP administration to concentrate their efforts on Bournemouth town centre to carry on from the good work we did at Bournemouth Council.”

The BCP Council were unable to provide a comment about the issue.