Once a bustling retail and leather trade hub, Walsall's high street now presents a stark picture of decline, with more than 40 empty shops leaving locals feeling their town has been 'forgotten'. The situation, documented in July 2025, remains unchanged as the festive season approaches, casting a shadow over the West Midlands town.
A Desolate High Street and Lost Community
Recent images reveal a desolate town centre full of boarded-up, derelict stores, many covered in graffiti with smashed windows. This visual decay underscores a deeper economic malaise. Walsall was recently named the second lowest rated area in England to start a business and has previously suffered one of the worst empty shop rates in Britain.
New figures paint a grim economic portrait, showing the town is below average on nearly every front, with nearly one in four residents economically inactive. With an estimated 150 shops across its four main streets, approximately one in four now lies vacant. Locals express fear for the future of what they describe as a 'forgotten' area, where there is "no longer any sense of community".
Business Owners Struggle as Footfall Vanishes
Frustrated shop owners highlight the severe challenges. Harcharan Pala, who runs Revolution Records, has witnessed the decline over eight or nine years. "The town is just desolate now," he said. "It used to be a destination town... Without those big anchor shops drawing people in, there's no reason for people to come."
He points shoppers towards larger cities like Birmingham or out-of-town retail parks, leaving Walsall behind. High rents and business rates are cited as a major disincentive for small businesses. Pala's attached indoor market has seen traders drop from 18 to just seven, forcing him to consider moving online. "Walsall has turned into a town of pound shops and charity shops," he added, reflecting changed consumer habits.
Window cleaner Paul Booth, with 44 years of service, starkly illustrates the downturn. His team of five has dwindled to just him, and work that once took a week is now completed in a single day. "I don't even recognise the place anymore. It's just empty and dying a death," he stated, lamenting the loss of community spirit.
Glimmers of Hope and Calls for Systemic Change
Despite the bleak outlook, some are trying to buck the trend. Damian Chapman, 30, opened The Card Loft, a trading card game store, in July 2025. "I'd seen all the negativity... but it didn't put me off because this is where I grew up," he explained. He believes in offering a niche, community-focused service that can draw people in, noting there is still some footfall, particularly from the local college.
However, the call for wider support is loud. Tom Ironside of the British Retail Consortium emphasised that the outdated business rates system must be reformed to support high streets. "It is essential that the Government’s reforms to rates leave no shop paying more," he argued, stating this would free up investment for communities.
In response, Walsall Council pointed to a £1.5 billion regeneration programme aimed at creating new opportunities. Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader, acknowledged the struggle, stating: "People’s shopping habits have changed, and our town centres need to diversify." The council says it is working to create an environment that attracts people back to support local businesses, but for many residents and shop owners, tangible change cannot come soon enough for this historic market town.
