A little of both. A town with high unemployement and perpetual low earners in a the middle of a recession with no industry to speak of is always going to struggle to maintain major high street chains.
Towns such as Leigh and Bury have been mentioned on here but Accy can't compete with these as they benefit from the Greater Manchester effect.
Although as I understand it the rents for the Arndale and Broadway are absolutely outrageous.
Perhaps the answer is for Manchester to become part of Greater Accrington?
