I think we're about to see another High Street collapse. Rents are soaring, disposable income is falling and footfall is decreasing.

Perhaps the rent is too high on the Parade. Though I was pleased to see a new Cotswold furniture company open up which has been there since last year.

Looking at RI's latest accounts I don't see anything particularly alarming, (although their net worth has declined quite a lot since 2017, their cash reserves have increased and they can still easily cover any debts) so I can only assume that they're divesting themselves of units that they see as unprofitable in an effort to be ahead of the rest of the sector. I would guess that after the last couple of years they're focussing on online sales and that any physical stores that aren't paying their way are going to be closed.

I don't know what rental The Parade attracts, but it won't be cheap, and with our financial situation and disposable incomes collapsing, I guess they have to make 'business' decisions.

I wondered into River Island occasionally, but their clothes were never quite my style.

Yes it was rather a bolt out of the blue.

I'm surprised to hear RI has gone Margaret.

Weil another popular high street store bites the dust in Leamington Spa, We've lost River Island now.
So it would be pointless pedestrianising the Parade with no shops to browse in. It's not going to happen.

I always used to try to avoid driving down The Parade, but I'm not sure what pedestrianising it would do to the roads (and shops) off it.

The council might get away with pedestrianizing the Parade, as there plenty of alternative routes between the top & bottom of town: https://www.stratford-herald.com/news/plans-remain-for-car-free-town-centres-9241682/

It might well cause a few problems with the buses.

I am not at all keen on the Parade being pedestrianised. But I guess they will go ahead with it.

Its just Parade on the Map, but most everyone refers to it as 'The Parade' as I do.

I always knew it as The Parade.

Coventry has a street called Burges, people insist on calling it The Burges.

Is the street called 'The Parade' (that's what I've called it), or just 'Parade'?

It might work, as there are roads running parallel to The Parade drivers can use, but might cause extra traffic around the Kenilworth Road & High Street areas: https://www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk/news/opinion/should-leamingtons-parade-be-pedestrianised-more-of-your-views-on-a-long-running-debate-that-has-got-people-talking-3177929