How you think demolishing shops in King Street will help transform South Shields town centre

The comments come as South Tyneside Council moves forward with its plans to demolish empty shops in King Street, making way for future development.

If approved, demolition work could start at the end of March, with readers welcoming it as an initial stage in the process of encouraging footfall and encouraging investment in South Shields.

Some hope to see certain “beautiful” town centre buildings preserved.

The demolition, which includes numbers 79-99 in King Street, forms part of the £100million South Shields 365 regeneration masterplan.

Here is how you reacted:

Kerry Steele: “Well I’m hoping Marks & Spencer comes back … miss that shop loads.”

Mark Kirkwood: “Why can’t they do one of these Stack (container) things where the multi-storey was on Mile End Road.”

Rachael Milne: “Some of the buildings in the article look like good buildings and the one that used to be GAME and Mothercare won’t be missed much as they’re not very appealing.”

Mark Langley: “Cinema complex will bring food chains like Nandos, those in turn will bring footfall, footfall will bring investment from retailers, it won’t happen overnight but the compulsory purchase orders on King Street take time.”

Stephen Moran: “Will be brilliant to see the whole scheme when complete next year, the new retail buildings planned for King St, Keppel St and Coronation St are just what is needed.”

Gary Wilkin: “I hope they build soon afterwards and that it won’t be just left for years.”

Lawrence Taylor: “If Newcastle carries out its plans to limit traffic over the Tyne Bridge, there is a small chance that people from surrounding towns may just come to South Sheilds, but only if there are good retailers selling things we need and not tat.”

Mark Coates: “They cannot take the upper building down it isn’t right. They’re part of Shields heritage.”

Brenda Reburn: “They need to do something with this town it’s a ghost town, it used to be jumping back in the day!”

Claire Davison: “Hope they don't touch the historical ones. Some beautiful buildings on King Street.”