WE RECENTLY received a Letter to the Editor detailing how "Bournemouth will be a ghost town" as a result of all the recent closures in the High Street.

This short letter posed the question of what would happen to all of the empty shops and whether, like the Marks and Spencers site, they would remain empty.

Peter Swains' letter criticised the council's lack of initiative in ensuring that Bournemouth town centre can still "attract visitors".

Many readers agreed with the letter and explained why they think the town is slowly deteriorating.

The controversial topic of free parking was frequently touched upon, with many readers highlighting the high prices of parking in Bournemouth.

Grace Hamilton commented: "Business rents being sky high and parking charges are the problem. Personally, I avoid the town centre like the plague."

Steve Mcquade added: "Take a trip to any retail park where free parking is offered, and the motorist is welcomed (e.g. Castlepoint) and you can see that online shopping is NOT the main problem!"

However, some readers do not seem to think that free parking will solve the problem of the high street's decline.

Garry Mann explained: "Free parking is not the answer as it will probably end up abused. Free parking on the weekends should encourage more people to visit the town."

Despite the parking in Bournemouth being a bone of contention amongst many of our readers, others highlighted the issues surrounding the town itself and how it differs to other successful high streets.

Janice Lewis said: "Comments on here are repeatedly citing car park charges and online shopping, but queues of cars flock to Southampton to shop! Car park charges in West Quay are high, but the car park is often full. There is a fab choice of shops and eateries (unlike Bournemouth).

"Bournemouth Council really need to start employing someone worth those expensive salaries who can inject some 21 Century life into the town and clean it up."

Rebecca Richardson also highlighted the significance of business rates, amongst other things.

She commented: "I like Bournemouth town centre! Love the gardens and love BH2, but I hate the smell of weed all the time and the anti-social behaviour. It's not a nice place to be in the evening.

"Cheaper business rates are needed to attract the big stores back as there’s not a lot left anymore."

Our readers also mentioned their preference of alternative shopping locations, such as Wimborne and West Quay in Southampton, detailing how they would much rather travel further afield than visit what's on their doorstep.

Mark Holdgate explained: "Depending on the time of day, I can drive to Southampton faster than I can get into Bournemouth from Corfe Mullen. That's before I even consider the issues of parking in the town centre.

"There needs to be better transport infrastructure between Bournemouth and Poole and frankly, we need more diverse shops as well."

Christine Lepine added: "I don’t go to Bournemouth much at all - I prefer Wimborne and Ringwood, where they have more diverse shops and cheaper parking. I also travel to Winchester, West Quay and Gunwharf."

Many have noticed the changes to the town centre over the years, and do not want these changes to continue damaging the high street.

Madeleine Murphy said: "It's so sad to see how it has deteriorated since we moved here 17 years ago. It needs a combined plan by all agencies, council, police, community groups to push forward the changes that are necessary for the town to survive.

"Retail is changing and so will our town centres. The good will survive, let Bournemouth be one of them."

Another reader emphasised the evident changes to the town over the years and how it has impacted the appeal to visit and purchase from the high street.

"I hate and detest Bournemouth, it’s a filthy, squalid and greedy place," said James Kellard.

He added: "When I was a boy, growing up there in the 1960's and 70's I loved it, but that Bournemouth is little more than a memory now."

With shops rapidly disappearing from the Bournemouth town centre, there are many factors that could be attributed to its deterioration.

Parking charges, presentation, lack of independent shops and business rates were frequently mentioned by our readers.

It is clear from the near 400 comments on our Facebook post that our readers desperately want things to change and improve, for the sake of the town and for those who still visit and earn a living from it.