Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

thanks Lilly, its been bugging me,must be some new "Buzz" word or summat stupid like that, or i'm totally stupid.:D

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Well, in the meantime, our councillors have got to try really hard to attract one mainstream retailer .. ok .. gotta' be Next I suppose, where there is one of these, others will follow.

Might have to take some type of 'lost leader' to dangle the carrot, but convinced it would work.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

I don't think the salvation of our town centre would be a NEXT store.

Few random thoughts.
If we were unable to attract the big names these are what I would do -
concentrate on nearby housing - there are some but not many houses in the town centre - if there were better flats and accomodation much more centrally then you'd get a better economy there. As it is the houses closest to the town centre are some of the worst in the area.

Where people are there is money - so improved evening facilities like restaurants - not just fast food places. I can only think of one restaurant roughly in the centre.

Attractions - there is no reason to come into the centre in the evening unless you're a drinker.

Obviously, not just concentrating on the evening culture but I've said it many times - specialist shops - not NEXT and the like but boutiques, delis, art shops etc. As it is at the moment NEXT won't come but they'd be in like a shot if the town had something special to offer.

Making it attractive - by that I mean the roads into the town as well. If someone was coming by bus the route in has to look good. Look immediately out of the centre and the majority of routes in are run down. I know there's work going on Blackburn Rd but all the routes need looking at.

There needs to be better controls about what sort of shop fronts are allowed - i.e. no back lit signs, no garish colours, all in keeping with a certain style - even the big boys curb their usual garish styles when they're in upmarket towns.

Finally, policing - by bringing more houses/flats into the centre you'd have an automatic police force twitching their curtains. But you need more of a presence during the days as well so that trouble is moved on or stopped before it's started. Get the message over loud and clear.

Oh, and clamp down on chewing gum and litter.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Oh our dear dear STUPID cashy :D we love ya all the same :p

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

I think the housing is a good idea. When I moved back here I would certainly have considered a loft type apartment in the town centre.

Sadly, unlike in most other parts of the country, there aren't any.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Sorry Gayle, ya' still got yer aesthetic, arty head on .. not the business head.

You have to think of the catchment and, as Garinda has already tried to put the point across of geographics .. we do not harbour that type of clientele.

Would help if M&S and Boots could extend a little too.

Sort of agree about the evening culture, as mentioned, hope Ken Horkins plan for a wine bar on Church Street will be a little more open to the street, etc., but the drinkers are not spending money in the shops. The evening culture/apartments would just follow, even specialist shops would bounce off the nucleus, maybe around Warner Street .. our 'South Quarter' (probably got that wrong geographically**.. gotta' start realistically.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Agreed, but that should also apply to any new buildings as well, so we don't end up with Toy Town architecture, topped off by a French chateuesque roof, that the council allowed to be built on the site of the old outside market.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Love the idea of Accy being a haven for artists and artisans, but as someone who has actually run several, successful retail businesses, I feel it is even more wishful thinking, and not something that would be economically viable. As stated earlier, there are very few 'arty' shops in St Ives, despite the hoardes of tourists, and a sizable artist community.

I was chatting to the woman who runs the nearest thing we have to an antique shop in Accy, in the Victorian Arcade, and until we went in, and only taken forty quid in a week. Not much of a living wage, is it?

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

I disagree about starting realistically, you have to be bold in order to attract consumers - just being like all the other towns won't cut it anymore. The physical size of Accrington means that it can't compete with Blackburn and Burnley so instead of attempting to it should try to be something different.

I do have a business head on Katie but I think you have your rose coloured specs on for the good old days. Why should Accrington town centre be a shopping centre - just because it always has been. That's failed so now it's time to be a bit radical and try something different.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

It doesn't have to be 'arty' - just specialist shops.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Well rather you than me, sitting in a shop all day selling pot pourri, and a few candles.;)

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

What about visitor attractions? Even small ones like the old clock brought people in but bigger ones like Eureka or Sea Life or something on a smaller scale but you get the idea.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

Think I have got my very modern head on Gayle .. not living in the past at all, as were more specialised shops then. High street shops are the modern era.

Think you are trying to create a Utopia, and as things stand at the moment, will not happen.

Re: Whitebirk planning application.
 

As things stand!!!!!

We have to stop thinking about 'as things stand' and aim for something different.