The potential closure of Elgin’s St Giles Centre has left shoppers heartbroken and concerned about the town’s future
Elgin: The news about the St Giles Centre closing has really hit home for many locals. Shoppers are saying it’ll “take the heart out of the town.”
Just today, it was announced that the centre is set to shut down, and shops have only two weeks to clear out. That’s a tight timeline!
Back in November, Moray Council decided to chase £750,000 in unpaid business rates from the centre’s owner, St Giles Holdings Ltd. Seems like that didn’t end well.
One shopper, who didn’t want to share her name, called the closure a “tragedy” for the town. She used to work there and was shocked to hear how close it was to shutting down.
She mentioned it’s a shame they didn’t pay what they owed to the council. Now, there’s a real worry that shops might move out of the town altogether.
Another local, Peter McLen, reminisced about the centre’s exciting opening back in the 90s. He’s 68 and feels it’s a real loss for a place like Elgin.
He pointed out that people are now heading to Inverness or Aberdeen because there’s not much left in Elgin. It’s a sad state of affairs.
Kerry Feeney, speaking on Elgin High Street, expressed her sympathy for the workers who are losing their jobs with such short notice. She feels for them.
She also raised a good point about elderly folks who might have to wait outside for buses once the centre closes. It’s a warm spot for them, especially in this cold weather.
