The scale of ambition for many seems to be Primark. If that doesn't say everything about modern-day Carlisle folk, I don't know what does.

I'm moving.

The amount of snobbery on here towards Primark is unreal! These days people can't afford to shop in places like Hoopers (not that I would even if I had the money) so a Primark would be ideal. It would bring many more people to the area, so how can that be a bad thing? If you have the money for Hoopers, good for you but the reality is that most people don't.

This City is on a fast track to nowhere, sad to see.

Losing the disc zone parking next to Hoopers won't have helped. It has been a big mistake pedestrianising it to such an extent and putting double yellow lines down the side of the store. I feel concerned for the other businesses in the area. It is hard enough at the moment with the recession without making it less convenient for people to park near the centre free of charge. I liked Hoopers but the prices were too high for the majority of people living in the area so I'm sure that people visiting Carlisle and parking near the store would have provided much needed trade.

Carlisle is getting to the stage of lacking critical mass. The range of stock in a lot of the shops is limited (Top Shop, H&M) and everyone wanting a good shop is either buying on line or going to Newcastle. I had a couple of hours to kill yesterday, and realised what a lack of interesting 'browsing' shops there are. The cost of parking and rural buses are also having a detrimental effect. The council is not working in the best interest of the people of Carlisle, they just want to screw as much money as possible out of drivers. They will get to the stage of not getting any parking fees, because no one will have anything to go into Carlisle for.

Why do people assume Primark want to move into every vacant shop in Carlisle? I would imagine the parking and delivery restrictions in Castle Street now would deter most businesses from taking on a shop there. As for not wanting cheap shops near the Cathedral, Poundstretcher has been there for years.
There is a lovely ladies fashion shop further along Castle Street which sells some beautiful unique designer ranges - not all clothing has to come from large shop chains, and there are also some very nice cafes too. Walk just a little further, think outside the box and who knows what you will find.
As for the future of Hoopers site - I think Carlisle needs something like the former County Store(Co-op)which has been sadly missed. They sold everything from food to fashion to electricals at good prices and there is nothing like it now.

And so the 'P' word gets mentioned again...

It is no ones prerogative to decide where another person does or does not shop, neither is it anyone's prerogative to determine what clothes another person wears.

Every major city in the country is home to atleast one Primark store and none of those places have issues with every body wearing the same clothes. That is an absurd view from those who would rather (out of spite) a premise stood empty and rotted rather than serve a purpose for a percentage of the population not including themselves.

For the record, those people that would shop at a Primark in Carlisle already do so at another branch elsewhere, difference being is their money is being pumped into the economies of other cities, a problem which needs to be addressed if Carlisle is to remain a fantastic shopping choice.

The anti-Primark argument is null and void and quite frankly, getting rather boring.

What is most important for Carlisle is having a high occupancy rate and therefore money being spent in these premises. It seems that too many people are too busy moaning about the past instead of understanding that a shop the size of Hoopers is only affordable to a small number of retailers. And Primark is one of those few.

Shame but fact is it is too expensive although footwear is good quality but not for todays economic climate like store manager stated..Primark though not so sure about because of treatment of the poor people in slavery who make the clothes for a pittance,that cannot be right,can it?

I personally find clothes and footwear made abroad on the cheap doesn't fit well like those made in UK. It is deplorable that Companies have exited UK to greedily make clothing abroad often full of nasty chemicals..A nice Organic shop would be good there..

What an absolute shame. It really is a sign of the times, and reflects what is happening in this city. Hoopers is a class store and I love going in to browse. I spend sparingly on quality goods. Staff are always helpful and refreshingly old fashioned in their approach. Where can I get my shoes from now??? Oh yes.,the internet :( ....useful, but it doesn't support your local shops. And I don't think Primark will "fit" into that beautiful building somehow! Now John Lewis is another matter! That would be a coup for Carlisle, but I don't think there is enough money up here for them to invest. Shame. Is this yet another case of a beautiful historic building standing empty and making the town look poor?

I am not sure what people's hang up is with having Primark in Carlisle, the clothes are not rubbish I have many clothes from their and also from more costly stores like M&S, Debenhams, and they are just as good a quality but half the price, and you'll find these days most of these big stores don't source clothes etc from UK manufacturers but from Asia, if all those people expressing how wonderful Hoopers is and they shopped there you have to wonder why its closing, I expect they have never even stepped foot inside, during these difficult financial times not every family can afford those prices, but even if I was flush with money I always look for bargains and you can't knock Primark on prices, and also the clothing in Primark is not made from child labour, so Emma and Co. check your facts, I feel for all the Hoopers staff but I am sure they would rather be re-employed working in Primark than on the dole queue.