‘Our town centre is a dump’, locals complain after latest shop closure

RESIDENTS in a Scots town fear more retailers will leave the local shopping centre – after two stores shut within a week.

Several shoppers have dubbed Cumbernauld town centre as a “dump” following the recent closures and emergency building works.

And The Sacramental Tattoo Family is the latest business to shut up shop at The Centre in the North Lanarkshire town.

The shopping mall has been forced to close parts of the building for nearly three weeks for health an safety reasons due to damage caused by Storm Isha and Jocelyn.

Shops in certain parts of the centre have also had to shut, unable to do business.

Scaffolding, metal fences and tape have been spotted inside the centre, along with buckets on the ground and “caution wet floor” signs.

In an announcement on Facebook, staff at the tattoo parlour wrote: “As you are aware, our Cumbernauld location has been plagued by the deterioration of the Shopping Centre since we moved in six years ago.

“At present we have been closed for nearly three weeks now due to the latest disaster with the roof coming off the building making it unsafe for anyone to enter our part of the shopping centre.

“We have been asking for an idea of when we can get access back into the shop but at the moment the Cumbernauld Centre are unable to give us any clear answers.

“Despite these challenges the team here have fought hard to keep going but unfortunately if we can’t trade, we can’t remain therefore Barry has taken the hard decision to close the Cumbernauld studio.”

The business will open up the parlour at a new two-story location in Kilsyth.

They added: “We are excited to announce that we are in the process of moving to a new two-story location just ten minutes down the road in Kilsyth.

“This move signifies a fresh start for us and ensures that we can continue to provide you with an exceptional tattoo experience in a safe and reliable environment. This will be our permanent new location for The Sacramental Tattoo Family.

“I would just like to say that we are immensely grateful for your patience and loyalty throughout this journey. Your support has been the driving force behind our decision to move and expand.

“Stay tuned for updates on our grand opening date, details about our new location and information regarding current bookings and deposits. We look forward to seeing you there!”

It comes after Castle Comics UK also closed down their store in the Cumbernauld centre last week as they could “no longer trade” at the location “due to leaks, subsequent damage and lack of maintenance.”

Following the news of the latest shop closure, residents took to the comments.

One person said: “Wouldn’t be surprised if every shop left, the town centre is a dump!

“Our town could be worth so much more.”

Another wrote: “Town centre is an absolute dive anyway. Best of luck guys!”

A third commented: “Don’t blame you guys. The place is a disgrace. Nice to see someone else moving into Kilsyth Main Street.”

And a fourth said: “Totally gutted but the town centre needs ripped down. The place isn’t safe.”

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council, told the Glasgow Times: “Due to recent high winds, part of the roof areas in the shopping centre were impacted, resulting in substantial water ingress and repairs are underway to address this.

“We are making considerable investment to develop the retail space, including improvements to lifts, access points and shop frontage so that the shopping centre continues to attract custom.

“The council purchased The Centre Cumbernauld last year as part of a multi-million-pound regeneration programme to revitalise the town centre.

“This is an exciting long-term programme that will transform the town centre which will include a proposed new state-of-the-art hub with shared public services, new commercial and retail premises, amenity spaces and town-centre living.

“The community will be fully involved in these plans.

“However, this will take many years to come to fruition and in the meantime, we will work with retailers and other businesses to maximise their potential as The Centre Cumbernauld will continue to operate  as a shopping centre for a number of years, with a full retail offer remaining in place.”

The council completed the purchase of The Centre in June 2023 after having received £9.225 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.

During its construction the centre was heavily praised but it quickly became known as an eyesore and was awarded Scotland’s Carbuncle title and handed the “plook on the plinth” award in 2001 and 2005.

The council have said the current town centre “does not fit with the community’s vision of what they need from a modern town centre.”