ANOTHER closure has brought the total number of empty units in Gloucester's main shopping area to 49.
Birthdays shut the doors of its Eastgate Shopping Centre branch, which includes a Pure Party outlet, on Sunday, with the loss of eight jobs.
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GONE: Pure Party and Birthdays shop in Eastgate Shopping Centre.
It is part of the Clinton Cards group which is in administration.
A spokesman said there were no plans to close the Gloucester or Stroud branches.
Figures from the city council show 10 shops within the central shopping area have closed since January, when 39 of the 308 units were empty.
Kayleigh-Anne Hampton, 24, from Brockworth, said of the latest closure: "It can just join the rest of the empty shops. There's lots."
Joanne Batt, 23, of Painswick Roadsaid: "It's not so bad it's gone because we have got Clintons and Card Factory."
Kirsty Barclay, 21, from Painswick Road said: "There will be more shutting.
"Shopping here is too expensive as most people are on benefits."
Aaron James, 34, from Stonehouse, said: "It's quite shocking so many places are closing.
"The only thing that seems to be opening is 99p shops."
Dave Robinson, 62, from Tredworth said: "I'm not surprised. Gloucester is dead for shopping and something needs to be done."
Activities
Rob Key, 40, of Hucclecote said he often shopped in Birthdays and will miss it.
Secretary of Gloucester City Centre Community Partnership Barry Leach said: "We are holding our own but need to do better.
"We need more activities so the city centre is not just about shopping."
City council leader Paul James said there was "not a lot" the council could do about national closures.
He added: "I absolutely agree we need to make the city centre about more than shopping."
He pointed out upcoming events in the city centre, including the night market, Hat Festival and Food Festival.
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