The town centre has been slammed as 'sad and depressing' by a shopper who feels disappointed to see stores boarded up. 

Eden Shopping Centre has had exciting store openings in recent months, with Sostrene Grene, Black Sheep Coffee, Grounded Kitchen and even Buzz Gym.

Unfortunately, the town has faced shop closures too with the sad loss of Wilko closing its doors last month.

With big-name brands like Wilko closing for good, a customer has noticed how different the town centre feels now.

Peter Dashper shared photos of how the town centre looked on Tuesday, October 17, morning. 

Mr Dashper said: "I think it's very sad seeing the boarded-up shops

"I know a lot of shoppers including myself shop online now, particularly after the pandemic."

When asked why he thinks there are so many closed shops, he explained: "I think, to be honest it's the lack of choice and pricing.

"Even Primak has got expensive now. I used to use "New Life" the charity shop in the Octagon when it first opened. However, they have got more expensive now and you have to spend time trying to find the correct size - also some of the clothing is damaged.

"Shops that sell odds and ends like Wilko used to. One shop that is missed is the Asian shop that was on the High Street. They used to sell everything.

"It would also be nice to have an independent bakery and butchers. It's nice that the model shop "Collectables R Us" has managed to continue trading. Not that I use it personally but I can see why it is popular."

According to town centre bosses, "2023 has been a very strong year for Eden Shopping Centre" despite the negatives.

A spokesperson for Eden Shopping Centre said: "Two of the main indicators of a retail centre's performance are footfall and spend. We're happy to confirm both figures are up year on year.

"Leasing activity has been a driving force in this performance. This year alone Eden has welcomed Buzz Gym, Amour Boutique, Sostrene Grene, Grounded Kitchen, Black Sheep Coffee and Sugar Sole to the centre.

"In addition, Cupp has opened in Bull Lane and Chaii Wala in White Hart Street; proving that High Wycombe remains an attractive location for retail, leisure and food and beverage operators.

"High Street brands including New Look and Shoezone have also invested in refurbishing their stores in recent months, further evidencing their commitment to Eden and High Wycombe."

"The much-publicised arrival of Primark is an exciting development for Eden and being able to provide high profile, modern accommodation to some of the UK's largest retail operators is key to the success of the centre.

"We're also really excited about the forthcoming opening of Osaka, which will complement our extensive food and beverage offer." 

What are your thoughts on the town centre? Let us know in the comments below.