At the weekend, the Dorset Echo reported that School Street Plaza - previously known as the Colwell Centre - had closed its doors for good amid plans for the building to be demolished and turned into flats.

The article attracted dozens of comments, with lots of readers sharing their views on the news. Here are just some of the comments.

  • Common sense. It’s been struggling from day 1. My mum used to go upstairs to the cafe and have a coffee and piece of toast but who spends any money there? ronfogg
  • I know it’s sad but you can’t keep giving endless help to small businesses just because they are independent. If it’s not making profit then it’s not viable. We have to accept that times and shopping styles have changed and one should take account of this when setting up a new business. Just here to wind the wet liberals up...
  • I don’t think being independent as a business is an issue. Hundreds exist across Weymouth quite happily. As for my independent business, there’s not been any help passed our way - so let me know what that might be. HaylandsBoy
  • Most high streets are roughly 80 per cent chain stores and 20 per cent independents. Weymouth is very unusual is being almost the reverse, with 78 per cent independents. The business rates systems is clearly unfair and needs to change. Better business planing might help retail tenants negotiate lease agreements that prove more viable. Beyond that, high house prices reducing available household leisure time and disposable income, plus cheaper more immediately convenient alternative retail models are not going to go away. James Farquharson
  • Added to which, some at least of the smaller towns which have bucked the trend have done so by moving into niches and/or going up market. In those places parking does not appear to be a pivotal issue. Rocksalt
  • The indoor market was a good idea but didn’t seem to work. Maybe it would have survived if it was on one of the main shopping streets. Only been in there a few times and it was always quiet. Without customers you can’t attract good stalls, without good stalls you can’t attract customers. OpenWaterSwim