Cardigan's High Street: Fighting for Survival

0:00On April 8, Cardigan, that Welsh market town once called one of the prettiest spots for Christmas shopping by the times, is hitting rock bottom now. Independent shops, cafes, and butchers that give it that unique vibe are barely scraving by with skyrocketing costs and way fewer customers walking. In, rising parking fees hit last summer, 4 pounds minimum for 2 hours, and that's chasing tourists away even as Easter kicks off the busy season. A third-generation butcher shop that's been on the high street for 60 years says folks are tightening belts amid the cost of living crunch. Wow. Business rates and energy bills keep climbing. Owners are feeling the pain hard. One shop pulled in just 4 pounds in a whole week, a cafe calls it the quietest in 4 years and locals aren't. Spending like before, leaving everything dependent on visitors. An artist shut his gallery doors last week after paying 9,400 pounds a year in rates, heading off to Morocco instead. Summer fighting back, like a new pub owner slashing pints to 2 pounds 85 cents on weekdays

1:03to draw crowds, or a surplus store guy, moon lighting at a cafe just to stay open. Even a charity shop closed, showing how deep this runs. With Senate elections looming after May 7th and a new constituency in play, business folks are calling loud for lower rates, better training, and real support to save these high streets before more lights go out.