The new high street. Betting shops, loan shops and 99p shops.
25 November 2011, 05:24 PM
#3
Been like that in my highstreet for the past 15 years! 
Labour boom killed it, as all the landlords and councils all wanted too much. Combine that with the lower footfall when the parking charges sky rocketed.
Suprisingly the recession didn't make that much difference - most independant businesses had already packed it in by then, the exception are those that operate internet retailing on the side.
On the otherhand, another nearby high street was killed by a Tesco. And another by out of town shopping centre.
Labour boom killed it, as all the landlords and councils all wanted too much. Combine that with the lower footfall when the parking charges sky rocketed.
Suprisingly the recession didn't make that much difference - most independant businesses had already packed it in by then, the exception are those that operate internet retailing on the side.
On the otherhand, another nearby high street was killed by a Tesco. And another by out of town shopping centre.
Last edited by ALi-B; 25 November 2011 at 05:27 PM.
25 November 2011, 05:52 PM
#5
Our town, mostly the above with charity shops everywhere, a Bright House, an sleazy pub, and lots of banks and insurance agents.
We also boast the smallest WH Smith normal outlet in any town
, NO other bookshop at all
A huge market place, mostly covered with 50% of the stalls no longer used.
NO covered mall, (we are the only sizeable town within a 100 mile radius without one).
But one of our local guys just won fashion retailer of the year, "Fallen Hero".
Oh, and our main shopping areas are all built on an East-west line, so have zero sunshine in winter and howling westerlies when it's cold. Nice
We also boast the smallest WH Smith normal outlet in any town
, NO other bookshop at all A huge market place, mostly covered with 50% of the stalls no longer used.
NO covered mall, (we are the only sizeable town within a 100 mile radius without one).
But one of our local guys just won fashion retailer of the year, "Fallen Hero".
Oh, and our main shopping areas are all built on an East-west line, so have zero sunshine in winter and howling westerlies when it's cold. Nice
25 November 2011, 06:17 PM
#7
Pound land, Cash converts, Gold for cash shops .. Betting shops and off licenses .. scary places to be..
Our local area used to have
1. Freeman Hardy Willis, 2. Curtess, 3. Timpson's, 4. Clarkes, 5. Kwik Save, 6. Tesco, 7. Co-op, 8. Safeway, 9. Netto, 10. Marks & Spencer's, 11. Littlewoods 12. John Menzies, 13. Tandy, 14. Curry's, 15. Dixon's, 16. Rumblelows, 17. Woolworths, 18. Halford's, 19. Player's, 20. JJB, 21. Manweb, 22. Cordon Bleu, 23. Knags, 24. Army navy Stores, 25. Ethel Austin's, 26. Super Snaps, 27. Dewhurst, 28. Max Spielmanns, 29. Foster's .. and loads more .. all gone now.
Our local area used to have
1. Freeman Hardy Willis, 2. Curtess, 3. Timpson's, 4. Clarkes, 5. Kwik Save, 6. Tesco, 7. Co-op, 8. Safeway, 9. Netto, 10. Marks & Spencer's, 11. Littlewoods 12. John Menzies, 13. Tandy, 14. Curry's, 15. Dixon's, 16. Rumblelows, 17. Woolworths, 18. Halford's, 19. Player's, 20. JJB, 21. Manweb, 22. Cordon Bleu, 23. Knags, 24. Army navy Stores, 25. Ethel Austin's, 26. Super Snaps, 27. Dewhurst, 28. Max Spielmanns, 29. Foster's .. and loads more .. all gone now.
Trending Topics
25 November 2011, 06:22 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
25 November 2011, 06:40 PM
#10
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Swansea
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Been like that in my highstreet for the past 15 years!
Labour boom killed it, as all the landlords and councils all wanted too much. Combine that with the lower footfall when the parking charges sky rocketed.
Suprisingly the recession didn't make that much difference - most independant businesses had already packed it in by then, the exception are those that operate internet retailing on the side.
On the otherhand, another nearby high street was killed by a Tesco. And another by out of town shopping centre.
Labour boom killed it, as all the landlords and councils all wanted too much. Combine that with the lower footfall when the parking charges sky rocketed.
Suprisingly the recession didn't make that much difference - most independant businesses had already packed it in by then, the exception are those that operate internet retailing on the side.
On the otherhand, another nearby high street was killed by a Tesco. And another by out of town shopping centre.
If councils reduced rates for inner city areas and only allowed independent businesses, then it could recover. But the red tape put up by Labour, the councils being unrealistic, and the stifling of the entrepreneurial spirit. Its these very very high start up costs, and running costs make banks not want to lend as its more high risk, reducing these costs and helping small start ups thrive would be our way out. But the couldn`t do that as they have nice safe jobs for life and thats far too risky and involving work for them, much easier to go on strike.
25 November 2011, 06:47 PM
#11
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You forgot the "Accident Claims" companies.
Some high streets round here consist of:
Wetherspoons (full of alcoholics at 9am)
Charity Shops
Pawn / Gold Shops
Brighthouse
Polish Supermarket
Accident Claims
Sad times
Some high streets round here consist of:
Wetherspoons (full of alcoholics at 9am)
Charity Shops
Pawn / Gold Shops
Brighthouse
Polish Supermarket
Accident Claims
Sad times
25 November 2011, 06:50 PM
#12
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My mate is a shopfitter and his company have a contract with a large pawnbrokers who are opening shops all the time and have been doing for the last couple of years. Mostly in deprived areas he tells me, loads down in London and he's doing one in Longsight, Manchester soon.
They also have an advert on TV during Jeremy Kyle
They also have an advert on TV during Jeremy Kyle
25 November 2011, 07:27 PM
#13
Scooby Regular
As above, cash backhanders to council officials for selling off council land or passing planning for Tesco/Asda/ETC and the creation of out of town shopping centres. Councils charging stupid amounts of money for vacant buildings, and wanting ridiculous rates (as on paper they`d make loads).
If councils reduced rates for inner city areas and only allowed independent businesses, then it could recover. But the red tape put up by Labour, the councils being unrealistic, and the stifling of the entrepreneurial spirit. Its these very very high start up costs, and running costs make banks not want to lend as its more high risk, reducing these costs and helping small start ups thrive would be our way out. But the couldn`t do that as they have nice safe jobs for life and thats far too risky and involving work for them, much easier to go on strike.
If councils reduced rates for inner city areas and only allowed independent businesses, then it could recover. But the red tape put up by Labour, the councils being unrealistic, and the stifling of the entrepreneurial spirit. Its these very very high start up costs, and running costs make banks not want to lend as its more high risk, reducing these costs and helping small start ups thrive would be our way out. But the couldn`t do that as they have nice safe jobs for life and thats far too risky and involving work for them, much easier to go on strike.
Completely agree here. In West Wales there was a prime location for large shops or one of these shops & cinema venues like the one in Carmarthen.
Guess what was built there? The f*cking council offices. This huge castle as you drive into the town. Legalised corrruption on a grand scale.
25 November 2011, 08:14 PM
#16
Our one long stay car park used to be 30p. Its a good 8mins walk to the highstreet. But if you wanted cheap at least it was there and you could park all day. Which you wouldn't as your car, if left too long, would get its windows smashed.
Now its £2.60. As a consequence its empty. Nobody is going to pay that much for an 8min walk and to come back to a burgled/vandelised car. The only thing its good for is practicing donuts.
Meanwhile, 'Merry Hell' (the out of town shopping centre) is free to park all day long.
Now its £2.60. As a consequence its empty. Nobody is going to pay that much for an 8min walk and to come back to a burgled/vandelised car. The only thing its good for is practicing donuts.
Meanwhile, 'Merry Hell' (the out of town shopping centre) is free to park all day long.
Last edited by ALi-B; 25 November 2011 at 08:16 PM.
25 November 2011, 08:20 PM
#17
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Swansea
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Our one long stay car park used to be 30p. Its a good 8mins walk to the highstreet. But if you wanted cheap at least it was there and you could park all day. Which you wouldn't as your car, if left too long, would get its windows smashed.
Now its £2.60. As a consequence its empty. Nobody is going to pay that much for an 8min walk and to come back to a burgled/vandelised car. The only thing its good for is practicing donuts.
Meanwhile, 'Merry Hell' (the out of town shopping centre) is free to park all day long.
Now its £2.60. As a consequence its empty. Nobody is going to pay that much for an 8min walk and to come back to a burgled/vandelised car. The only thing its good for is practicing donuts.
Meanwhile, 'Merry Hell' (the out of town shopping centre) is free to park all day long.
25 November 2011, 11:57 PM
#19
Scooby Regular
The High Street used to be a High Street with a good mixture of high end shops even the charity shops made an effort. Then loads of shops started closing and the place was just filled with fast food places. The concil have fought back and new shops are begining to open with a restriction on food shops
26 November 2011, 07:55 AM
#22
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Disco, Disco!
Posts: 21,825
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As above, cash backhanders to council officials for selling off council land or passing planning for Tesco/Asda/ETC and the creation of out of town shopping centres. Councils charging stupid amounts of money for vacant buildings, and wanting ridiculous rates (as on paper they`d make loads).
If councils reduced rates for inner city areas and only allowed independent businesses, then it could recover. But the red tape put up by Labour, the councils being unrealistic, and the stifling of the entrepreneurial spirit. Its these very very high start up costs, and running costs make banks not want to lend as its more high risk, reducing these costs and helping small start ups thrive would be our way out. But the couldn`t do that as they have nice safe jobs for life and thats far too risky and involving work for them, much easier to go on strike.
If councils reduced rates for inner city areas and only allowed independent businesses, then it could recover. But the red tape put up by Labour, the councils being unrealistic, and the stifling of the entrepreneurial spirit. Its these very very high start up costs, and running costs make banks not want to lend as its more high risk, reducing these costs and helping small start ups thrive would be our way out. But the couldn`t do that as they have nice safe jobs for life and thats far too risky and involving work for them, much easier to go on strike.
26 November 2011, 09:19 AM
#23
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: A big town with sh1t shops: Northampton
Posts: 21,366
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When was the last time you went into town Paul? We went last Sunday, free parking all day which is new. Also, the council might have actually listened to people and reduced parking every other day. 1 hour free in the Mayorhold. Not sure if it's enough to save the town, but I suppose it will help a bit. Can pop in without worrying about having the correct change. (Don't get me started on parking machines not taking cards or giving change!)
26 November 2011, 12:19 PM
#26
Glad everyone feels the same about parking charges!!!!
Any dimwit short sighted council parking people reading this...durr....better to have full car parks and shoppers than one bloke paying £2.60.
Don't think it affects the shops problem.Every town centre revolves around all the above and phone shops.
Not surprising in an age when an iPhone is classed as a god and more important than food
Any dimwit short sighted council parking people reading this...durr....better to have full car parks and shoppers than one bloke paying £2.60.
Don't think it affects the shops problem.Every town centre revolves around all the above and phone shops.
Not surprising in an age when an iPhone is classed as a god and more important than food
26 November 2011, 03:47 PM
#30
Scooby Regular
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pot Belly HQ
Posts: 16,694
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Personally, it's the double glazing showroom who have had a smashed window for months which amuses me....
