But has anyone reading this ever gone there? Was the village even necessary? Was it built to rehouse displaced businesses from areas under development that endured forced evictions, and this was their sweetener? If so, will those who have dropped their shutters in the village for the last time be in a financial position to relocate or could this be the end of their business for good.

Barwa was always going to be a destination retail village. Customers going there would have, and indeed still do need a reason to go there. But there is nothing that sets it apart. Nothing that makes a trip over there worth while. Or none that I am aware of, and that is why as yet I have not journeyed over there.

I did not post this to ridicule or criticise. I posted because I feel very sorry for the business men and women, who could well have sustained irreparable financial damage. But in the same paragraph I must add that I cannot think of a solution myself.

However a dramatic reduction in rent would probably benefit, along with marketing that explains to people like me why we should go there. Good reasons like a list of business located there and what they offer. And someone needs to come up with a good unique reason on top of that as well.

I fear that Barwa Village without prompt decisive action, could become a ghost retail park within the year.