National reports of 12 charity shops in Orpington High Street: What does the public think?

CHARITY shops in Orpington High Street include Scope, Marie Curie Cancer Care, the British Heart Foundation, The Children’s Trust, Age UK, Save the Children, Oxfam, pet charity PDSA, Harris HospisCare, Hospices of Hope, two Cancer Research UK shops and the Maypole Project.

This has led to the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Evening Standard all running recent pieces mocking the town.

But Orpington MP Jo Johnson has hit back saying: "I have been very disappointed by the recent coverage of Orpington High Street in certain national newspapers.

"Charity shops represent just four per cent of the high Street stores and the articles completely fail to acknowledge the many exciting developments that promise to transform the town centre into a local hub for businesses and consumers."

Bromley Council executive councillor for renewal and recreation Peter Morgan added: "We have a number of initiatives raising the profile of Orpington including the successful £2.2 million High Street improvements and the relocation of the library to a brand new building in the town centre.

"With a new seven screen Odeon cinema and retail development coming soon, the future looks bright for the town."

What the public think:

Local Trader Chandra Sharma, who represents Orpington 1st, an organisation set-up to re-invigorate the town, pictured here with Jo Johnson.

He said: "We are working towards a High Street that businesses can thrive in and visitors will enjoy spending time in and can feel proud of.

"Our vision is for the town centre to be a vibrant and attractive place full of opportunities for retail, leisure and investment."

Shaun Shajehan, store manager, of Poundworld UK, 208 The High Street, Orpington, said: "It is one of the quietest high streets.

"Many people that do their weekly shops are more likely to go to a shopping centre like Bluewater."

Bradley Jeffrey, 37, manager of Angelo’s Barbers, 240 The High Street, Orpington, said: "There are too many charity shops.

"They need to bring in a bigger shop like a Next or TK Maxx.

"They should have never have let Marks & Spencer go and they’ve got to stop pulling the road up."

Soraya Delgado, 48, of James Terry menswear, 276 The High Street, said: "I think the shops moving from here has a lot to do with parking and rent.

"The problem with this high street is there’s nothing interesting at all, nothing for the young.

"Someone should not give any more licences to charity shops."

Jenny McHardy, 64, of Crofton Lane in Orpington, said: "Unless you want a charity shop or a bank then you’re not going to want to come here.

"They have to encourage the national chains.

"The council have to take some responsibility for bringing variety to the high street."

Kathy Gelbart, 51, of Crofton Avenue in Orpington, said: "It is so sad a lot of little shops have closed down.

"I quite like the charity shops for books and things like that but there shouldn’t have to be so many.

"If there is a new cinema it would bring a few more people in."

Chris Holland, 42, of Tubbenden Lane in Orpington, said: "Recently, in the last six months a lot of things have been closing down.

"The council would rather have the high street empty than put the rates down.

"I think the rates are a joke and people are struggling."