That is what has happened in my town. Charity/cash for gold/ replaced the range of shops we had. Parking? Pay to park in limited parking in town with free parking in the out of town shopping centre. £1.60 for an hour in the town centre multi storey. Asda has a carpark with the £2 fee refunded at the till if you spend £5+ in the store. Special parking for "officials" in the council offices and carparks.
There is a town centre regeneration "plan" that is in place but slow to be effective at the moment. Some small businesses have had reassurance/sympathetic help in order to keep them there. Recently some derelict eyesores have been in focus and progress planned so maybe hope for the future.
