Wot no bookshop ?

I was disappointed when Luton's only bookshop (Waterstones) closed recently. The site is still unoccupied.

However Luton is, of course, not alone.

Nearly half of the UK's High Street bookshops have closed since 2005. A total of 580 towns do not have a single bookshop.

Campaigners warned yesterday that the loss of bookshops, coupled with threats to close thousands of libraries as part of council cuts, will lead to "book deserts" across large areas of the country.


Hall, J (2011) Internet and supermarkets kill off 2,000 bookshops, Daily Telegraph
2nd September

Luton Waterstones to close....

The Luton branch of Waterstones is to close shortly. The only bookshops left in the town will be the discount store 'The Works' and the more general W.H Smith. Very sad for the University Community and especially embarrassing as Luton attempts to obtain city status.

The company blames shop closures on the severe weather recently, and a 'weak entertainment market ' Shares worth £1 last January are now valued at 6 pence.

Surely Amazon and the effects of the recession are the real reason for the shops decline.