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You and Yours: Commuter Towns; Stadium Crowds; Music Lessons

11/09/2020

Commuter Towns; Stadium Crowds; Music Lessons

BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Commuter Towns; Stadium Crowds; Music Lessons

Shops and businesses in smaller towns and districts are thriving as more people shop locally and discover what their High Street has to offer.

New research for You and Yours today shows how smaller towns and district shopping centres have had a boost in trade during and after lockdown.
Shops and businesses in bigger cities like London, Manchester or Birmingham are still struggling. They had the most footfall to lose – 83% at the height of the pandemic - and since many workers haven’t returned to offices their recovery has been stymied. 
By contrast, smaller centres went down by 36% initially and that pattern has continued. It gives credence to the idea that people working from home are using local centres and even finding out about their neighbourhood High Street for the first time. The question now is: can they hang on to their newfound custom? 

The Prime Minister says the reintroduction of crowds to sporting events hasn’t been scrapped but is under review. Football and rugby union clubs had hoped to have their stadia about 25% full by October as fans were slowly brought back but the new regulations introduced this week have cast doubt on their return. Before this week, test events had been taking place to see how limited numbers of spectators could attend matches. It means restrictions on half-time food and drink, going to the toilet and even a ban on singing and shouting encouragement. We hear from an expert in crowd behaviour about what the new sporting landscape might eventually look like.

And budding musicians have been taking lessons online because of Coronavirus. But can you really become the next Hans Zimmer over Zoom?

PRODUCER: SIMON HOBAN
PRESENTER: PETER WHITE

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