An independent trader in Gravesend says some days he barely makes enough to pay for the light being on.

It comes as a new report warns that internet shopping and the expansion of Bluewater could have a devastating effect on our town’s independent retailers.

The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has predicted that by 2018, high streets will have lost almost a quarter of their shops, with smaller, specialist shops taking the biggest hit.

Bob Aslett, 55, has been running Elephant Music on Harmer Street in Gravesend since 1994 and has seen first hand the dramatic impact of the internet.

Mr Aslett said: “Will I be here in five years’ time? No. I don’t even expect to be here in three years. Maybe not even next year.

“Customers come into the shop, have a look around, scan the bar code of the guitar they like the look of and then go home and buy it off the internet.”

Getting out a sales book he points to a typical day’s entry.

He said: “That Thursday, I made £18.22 and it costs more than that to have the light on. I keep going with a rehearsal room and repairs but not for much longer.”

CRR says one in four shops specialising in books, music, gifts and cards face going under, leaving only discount stores, estate agents and coffee shops.

Music wholesaler Ian Collins, 49, supplies instruments to Elephant Music and says that the number of shops he used to supply across the South East has halved.

He said: “I think that the figure of one in five is conservative – I think more shops than that will have been lost by 2018.

“I don’t think the high street is recoverable – we’ve gone past the tipping point now.”

Last month, Dartford council approved plans to expand Bluewater by 20%, a decision Gravesham council objected to, saying that it “had the potential to impact adversely on neighbouring town centres.”

Gravesham council has asked the small businesses in Gravesend to get together to discuss how to get people back to the high street.

A spokesman for Gravesham council said: “Gravesham council works in partnership with local retailers and has continued with its drive to increase footfall in the town by staging events, like Children’s Day, Vintage Car days, St George’s Day parades, and many other festival days, to attract people.

“This year, the programme is being extended with a major Christmas drive aimed at positioning what is Kent’s fifth largest shopping centre at the heart of the festive season.

“For the second year, and specifically for small independent traders, we are taking part in Independents’ Day aimed at promoting the specialist businesses in town.

“The council recognises that the main financial pressures on local businesses are the National Non-Domestic Rates (business rates set by central government) and rents.

"Neither of these are within our direct control but the council’s view has been that it is better to attract people to the town and then it is up to the shops themselves to make the best of that.”

James Munns, 65, above, sells stationery, toys and gifts at his 100-year-old family business in Gravesend and though he knows he has lost customers to the internet he is still hopeful that he can keep his shop going.

He said: “We have every intention of being here in five years time but it is true that the retail world has changed out of all recognition.

“We used to have a camera shop, travel agents– now they’re all gone.

“Car parking charges, business rates, town planning all have an effect.

“The trouble is that the number of customers goes down but none of our costs do. Electricity, business rates, wages, everything goes one way.”

Amanda Stuckey, 38, above, has been running Flower Heaven for four years and has been in the floristry business for 20 years.

She decided that as she couldn’t beat the internet she might as well join it and now her business sells half of its products online and the other half from the shop.

She said: “Online shopping is convenient though with delivery it’s often not as cheap as people think.

“It is very sad to see Gravesend getting quieter and quieter each year.

She added: “The street outside our shop used to be heaving but now you think, where have all the people gone?”