Voices is the Dorset Echo's weekly youth page - written for young people by young people

DORCHESTER'S high street is constantly evolving.

For instance, the Next store has been quickly replaced by a Mountain Warehouse store.

Although Dorchester is becoming renowned for camping stores, it is better than leaving the store empty.

Furthermore, a new café and bakery have opened in South Street, as the Saltrock store has closed.

Larger high-streets may be suffering, but Dorchester certainly isn’t – as shops close, new ones are opening.

On Trinity Street a new franchise of Poppins Restaurants is due to open and the Panasonic Store has closed.

This movement of the high-street causes redundancy, but equally creates employment opportunities.

Steam Trader Cookshop is due to close next, and I am intrigued to see what will replace it.

Dorchester may only have a small high-street, but it is an individual town that is not only used by its inhabitants, but also by people who live in the surrounding towns and villages.

Poundbury supports Dorchester with independent stores rather than larger brands. Another modern development housed in the town is Brewery Square. It may not be large, but supplies many restaurants, shops and a cinema.

Overall, the town centre is small but surviving and it is the surrounding developments that keeps Dorchester individual.

By James Sullivan

By James Sullivan