Our once-thriving shopping centre ‘bustling with life’ in the 90s is now a ‘rotting eyesore’ – it’s a massive loss
A BUSTLING high street that was much-loved in the 90s has now been branded a ‘rotting eyesore’.
Plans to demolish the former shopping haven in Leeds have caused a stir among locals.
Ivy Mont, on York Road, was a row of shops simply known as ‘the Front’.
Nestled on the street was a Post Office, a doctor’s surgery, a chemist, bakers and a greengrocer.
After the shops fell into disarray, one local sparked a rumour on Facebook that they would be turned into housing.
“York Road. Shops returned to houses to let. A good idea in my opinion,” they wrote.
The post gained traction, leading to a debate on what should happen to the empty shops.
“Such a shame. It looks a real mess when you pass on the bus!! I used to love going shopping with my mum on here. There was everything you could think of,” another wrote.
“I still remember the smell of the hardware shop it was great and sold everything! Sad times and things change,” they added.
Another person shared their personal memories: “I lived in ‘the castle’ bungalow on Ivy Street.
“In the 70’s it was known as ‘the Front’. Spent much of my childhood up there.
“Either waiting for my great grandad to come out of the bookies or in Barbara’s hairdressers waiting for my mum getting her hair done on a Friday,” they continued.
Jimmy, who lived in the area since 1998, said there was no need for the row of boarded-up shops in the area.
He told Leeds Live: “I personally think they should just knock them down and build houses. You get houses all the way down York Road so it won’t make any difference.”
But not everyone agrees that they should be turned into housing.
Much-loved shopping centre popular in the 90s set to be demolished – as furious locals slam ‘complete waste of money’
By Milad Sherzad
FURIOUS locals have slammed plans to demolish an iconic shopping centre that was much-loved in the ’90s.
Shoppers who frequent Lewisham Shopping Centre in south east London have ridiculed plans to redevelop the site as a “complete waste of money.”
The site has been earmarked for demolition as part of a £1.3 billion project to build 1,700 new homes, a modern shopping complex with a rooftop garden, and a new live music venue.
However, the project, if approved by Lewisham Council, would take 10 years to complete and could cause disruption to the area.
Many locals are fuming at the plans, with some feeling their voices weren’t listened to, despite the project having a three year-long consultation period.
William McCann, 76, described the plans as a “waste of space” and a “complete waste of money”.
He told The Sun: “I don’t think it’ll work, it’s a waste of money.
“By the time you demolish this, you’ll lose everything, the market and all.”
The pensioner added that he likes the centre as it’s “handy for elderly people to come in”, and questioned how transport links would be disrupted by the construction.
However, he said that he wanted to see some improvements in the current complex.
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Fiona, who has lived in the area since the 1990s, said: “I don’t think it’s right they’ve turned them into houses, it’s just the way they are situated. It’s a shame they didn’t keep them as shops, it doesn’t look right.
“Everything was there, and gradually, one by one, they all left. It’s an eyesore. After I picked my kids up from school, they loved going into these shops to get sweets.”