RECESSION doom and gloom continues to tighten its grip on the local economy as more city centre shops close.

More jobs are forecast to be lost and more boarded shop windows look to face the cobbled streets of York as the credit crunch continues into 2009.

Soles shoe shop in Gillygate will shut down at the end of next month, with managers selling stock at just 40 per cent of the original price.

A member of staff said: “It’s a shame, but it is just the way the recession is affecting shops like this.”

Just a few doors away, sandwich shop Bliss shut earlier this month, as has Passion For Perfume, in Coppergate Walk, and Jessops, in Parliament Street, closed its shutters for the last time on Wednesday.

A spokesman for the photographic shop said the reason for closure was because of other branches of the shop being in close proximity.

“The shop closed down because there is another Jessops around the corner on Piccadilly and one at Monks Cross.

“There were nine staff working at the Parliament Street, but we will be working to relocate them to other Jessops stores.”

York’s first polish shop PL Polish, in Walmgate, has also closed, as will its sister shop in Selby.

The closures follow major jobs losses caused by Woolworths, entertainment retailer Zavvi, two JJB shops in Davygate and Goodramgate, city centre tea and coffee retailer Whittards and menswear retailer Andersons all shutting up shop. There are now 556 vacant commercial premises in the city.

City of York Council leader Andrew Waller said he will be meeting with the retailers’ forum today to review what the strength of the city centre retail economy is, what the strength of the stores remaining open, and what the local authority could do to help York retain its shops.

“This will be a time when retailers can talk to me directly as leader of the council about their concerns,” he said.

“I will be looking at reports of what figures were like from the Christmas and New Year sales and we will be working together and look at ways we can develop promotion to attract shoppers back into the city.

“I will also be looking at ways we can help local small shops so they can see through this economic downturn.

“We as a local authority have to help local retailers during this recession.”

Lord Mayor Brian Watson said: “It is a disappointment that shops are shutting but it is a hard time at the moment. There do seem to be a lot of empty shops. However I don’t think it is all bad; some shops also seem to be thriving.”