Polegate High Street should be a delightful place to shop and linger.
It could feature in a classic Ladybird illustration of Shopping with Mother, wholesome girl and boy at her side on a sunny day as they visit the bakery, the greengrocers and butchers.
There’s a mainline railway station, a church (below) opposite Victorian villas plus the beautiful backdrop of downland scenery.
Yet it’s just somewhere to pass through, the familiar British dispiriting urban environment of takeaways, estate agents, barbers and hairdressers plus, of course, a vape shop.
So, most of us pass on the train, noting the ranks of conservatories stuck on bungalows backing onto the rail line.
Or sit in the car, irritated as the level crossing gates descend to allow more sustainable transport to cross.
But is it somewhere to stop? Well, yes and no.
Yes, because for students of retail decline it’s a prime example of how a combination of planning laws and driving cars to the supermarket destroys small town centres.
And no, because for anyone wanting to shop, it’s a prime example of how a combination of planning laws and driving cars to the supermarket destroys small town centres.
A Lidl supermarket opened four years ago on Dittons Road, a short car drive or a sparse bus service away.
If they don’t go there, presumably the locals head south east, again only practicable by car.
Here they can move very, very slowly along Cross Levels Way and Lottbridge Drove for the homogenous retail of Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s or Morrisons. They can no longer walk around the corner to buy fresh ingredients for dinner, aside from a couple of convenience stores.
For those with a vivid imagination of what might have been, sitting at the Cherry Tree Eatery offers a prime view of twin buildings opposite where Ladybird mother probably used to shop.
One (above) is a six-shop row bookended with gables with one set of windows still furnished with original metal Crittall windows.
Now there is: a Chinese takeaway, barbers 1, estate agent 1, fish & chip shop, empty (was flooring) and estate agent 2.
To the south is a very a similar row with gable ends, now housing: a snack bar, barbers 2, tandoori takeaway and a pet shop (above).
This last is puzzlingly named Devotedly Discus. But it’s been trading here for nearly 30 years and it seems discus is a type of fish. The type that swims prettily in a tank, not the version served with mushy peas.
Comments on a Facebook page about the history of Polegate recall shops selling fruit and veg, two butchers, a haberdashers, jewellery shop, grocery store, a decorating store and a gents’ outfitters.
However, this is a story of modern Britain, a nation which loves to holiday near French and Italian towns full of independent shops and colourful markets but prefers to drive to the nearest supermarket when at home.
I counted at least three other hairdressers or barbers so, presumably, Polegatians are well coiffured even if they can’t buy much fresh food.
Polegate Town Council features on its website ‘Masterplan 2012’, a ten-year-old 40-page document which states, rather plaintively: ‘All suitable, radical proposals to improve and upgrade the town centre will be encouraged…’ Presumably, the wait goes on.
But … there is the whisper of High Street past just south of the level crossing.
There’s a traditional fish and chip shop plus Withers DIY, a classic hardware store with brooms, mops and shrimping nets standing sentry beside a layered rack of doormats and sacks of logs.
I’m sure Ladybird Boy and Girl could pick a brightly coloured net each here for a hearty beach visit.
It’s just that, if they don’t fancy fish and chips, mummy would have to drive to Lidl’s on the way home to buy something for tea.
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