I couldn't agree more. A town centre is the heart of a town and it seems like the heart is being ripped out in favour of building retail parks away from the town centre. As each shop closes its doors another part of the heart dies.

Councils are making a big mistake letting their town centres die.

I havent been to Rugby for some years but this is happening all over this country. Shopping centres are struggling and the councils seem intent on making matters worse.
No one in their right mind would sanction this. They would do up the existing town centre and spend the money making it more attractive. However planners are not of this world- all they see is our money to spend for us.Most of them flit from job to job in different towns, leaving their previous town in chaos and very much poorer. Coventry is a case in point. Nothing in the town planning flows- shopping is a nightmare- and all those empty shops.! ! But they are still going ahead with the big Jerde plan, all the while making cuts to everything else.
Town centre's are supposed to be in the centre of towns , not fields.

But not everyone's happy about it:
http://www.rugbyadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/debenhams-approved-retail-park-s-plan-gets-the-go-ahead-but-concerns-remain-over-town-centre-1-5147557