Originally Posted by garinda (Post 575452)

Apparently the Co-op just lease the space, the new part will also be available to rent.

Originally Posted by katex (Post 575593)

Course we are not going to find out for awhile, seeing as the H.B.C. are way off target on entering their Planning Applications online . !!

Originally Posted by Bee (Post 894543)

When was the Co-Op/Chemist building built?.

Originally Posted by Bee (Post 894543)

When was the Co-Op/Chemist building built?.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 894549)

I think it was 1989.

Though it was a Gateway when it first opened, then a Somerfield's, before becoming a Co-op.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 894649)

Was before that G. it was there when I moved back to Ossy in 1986

Originally Posted by flashy (Post 894653)

wasn't it also called Solo at one time?

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 894652)

1986 was my last year at college.

I can't remember it being there then.

Originally Posted by jaysay (Post 894657)

I moved back to Ossy on the 26th March 1986 and can remember going to the supermarket to do the shopping with the wife the same day, that's why I can remember it G

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 894659)

I'm sure you're right.

Although I was living in Liverpool then, I came back quite often, to get food parcels, but I can't remember going to the Gateway then.

I do remember my Nan thought it was good, having a deli counter, and her taking me there to fill my weekend bag with grub, but I thought it was later, when I was living in London.

Obviously mixed up, date wise.

Originally Posted by Gayle (Post 217339)

This is going to be a really long starting post

I’ve just taken a walk the length of Union Road in Oswaldtwistle and done an audit of all of the shops that we have there. I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised in the variety but there are a number of obvious gaps in the market but I’ll get on to that later.

Firstly, here is a list of shops that we currently have. I’ve divided them up into three categories for clarity.

Category 1 - shops that we probably have plenty of.
There are two different types of criteria for this category – either we’re over saturated with them i.e. off licences, or they’re specialist shops that would struggle with competition i.e. the wool shop. So, this is not a reflection on the quality of any of the shops in this category.

8 Alcohol shops (that includes off licences and general stores like the Co-op)
7 Beauty salons (including tanning shops)
8 Hairdressers and 2 barbers
7 Sandwich shops (includes 2 that are also cafes)
3 Chinese takeaways (including Bamboo Gardens)
5 Pizza/kebab takeaways (including Franco’s)
2 Indian takeaways (including Reena’s)
3 Insurance shops
2 Pet grooming shops
2 Card and wrapping paper
2 Chemists
2 Florists
3 Chippies
5 Newsagents (includes general stores that also sell newspapers)
2 Butchers
3 Second hand (junk) shops
2 Launderettes
1 Fitness equipment shop
1 Fitness Gym
1 Sweet shop
1 Model aircraft
2 Kitchen appliance shops
1 Equestrian clobber centre
1 Loss Assessor
1 Tool Hire
1 Wool Shop
1 Vets
8 Pubs


Category 2. Larger stores – self explanatory.
Ossy Mills
1 large pet store
1 largish Co-op


Category 3. Shops that could possibly stand a bit of competition.

If Oswaldtwistle were a thriving town (I actually do think it’s on the up but not there yet), there would be more variety in this category. So you might think it odd that I’ve put the Ladies clothes shops in this category even though we do have five nice ones (there are a couple of very nice ones that have just sprung up) but I think it would be wonderful to be such a thriving town that we could sustain even more choice in this area.

There are also a couple of shops in this category that could do with the competition to make them pull their socks up i.e. they’re very run down or untidy.

1 Homecare
1 Furniture (second hand but high quality)
1 Glass/window
1 Book store (second hand but specialises in antique and rare books)
1 Car parts
1 Charity shop
2 Children’s clothes
1 Post Office
1 Mobile & Computer shop
1 Bank
1 Bookies
1 Estate Agents
1 Decorating shop
1 Funeral
1 Curtain Factory rejects
1 Carpet shop (off cuts only)
4 Ladies clothes shops (high quality) + 1 High Quality Dress Agency


Plus – 1 GUN SHOP – I haven’t put this in any category because if it was up to me it wouldn’t exist at all.
There are six empty shops.

So, what else do we need – I offer these as suggestions for discussion, I’m sure there are many other ideas out there.

Men’s clothes shops
Shoe shops – Adult and children
Video hire
More Ladies clothes shops
Book shop (new books)
Electricals – i.e. TV, videos etc
Gift shops
Pottery/plates/cups etc
Named stores – Next, Claire’s Accessories, Boots – I add this with a reservation, would we be appealing enough to attract a chain store?

What else have I missed????????


The other comments that I have are that we have few physical gaps in the street which restrict flow. We have Ossy Mills at one end but quite a gap before the shops start, then there’s another gap between the Tinker & Budget and the Golden Cross. Somehow we need to find ways to fill those physical gaps in the shopping street.