Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
We have all seen Dover Town centre slowly die(and I say this as a Dovorian wanting a vibrant Towen centre)
A new adventure is the proposal for a weekend market, already we see
Labour cllrs B Royston and Our John Goodwin opposing it.
I fully understand local shops opinions
but these markets happen in other towns and as close by as Folkestone, so why is Dover so different?
Probably because the chamber oF commerce supports market is a reason not to want it lol
I wonder why other towns prosper whilst Dover town centre dies
there must be a reason for it
I will leave you all to ponder and respond
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
The Chamber is not just supporting it, the Chamber is the instigator and it has been done for good commercial reasons to help local shops and businesses. As you say Keith, it works in Deal, Sandwich and many other places, you dont hear the shop owners complaining.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Because, Keith, the supermarkets all have fruit and veg. markets included, and generally sell all sorts of food, so people flock to the supermarkets, only two of which are in the town centre: Marks & Sparks and Iceland.
The others are just outside the cnetre. You can't have more than so and so many shops and supermarkets, and also, the latter take up the work of tens of corner-shops. A market would only take away work from the supermarkets, so these and those betwen them would only compete! There has to be a limit as to how many retail sellers one has in a given area, else some will inevitably go out of business.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
It is wrong to simply claim that if you get more than a given number of retailers in an area some would go out of business. It they were all fruit and veg for instance, then yes of course, but by getting a mix of different retail you can increase the all important footfall and spend in the area. A market can bring goods and produce to the town centre not otherwise available and thus attract more shoppers to the overall benefit of the town. Look at the French market when we get it, there is a lot of stuff sold there that we cannot get and if we had some of those stalls it would bring more people into the town. I am convinced the market will be a great success for the vast majority of Dover town centre businesses.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
For me, it's a starter. The Town Centre isn't going to spring to life just because a market will be there once a week, but it can't do any harm to have an increased footfall. What needs to happen if Dover isn't to die is for a package of things to happen, including free on street parking, business rates to be scrapped and a Town Centre Manager appointed who isn't shafted by the people who appointed him. Oh, and there's the little matter of the economy to be sorted, but I accept that may be beyond the remit of either DDC or DTC.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
LOOKS like this debate will go on, and most people on here so far support it.
any other views
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
sitting on the fence with this chestnut.
one part of me says yes another says no,but good luck anyway.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Keith I am not opposed to a market,but it needs to sell things that is not sold already in the Town,most shops are only just surviving and the one day that is busy and where most shops make enough to keep open is on Saturday.Now the extra footfall will be good,but if a stall costing £25 for one day has to compete for the same people where one has to pay business rates,then some shops selling the same as the market could go to the wall.The problem is the market will only be open one day a week the shops are there for 6 days,so I am in favour of limiting the market to what we haven't got generally or putting it on a Sunday.
I see Cruise passengers and members of the public wandering around the Town on Sundays with little to do,lets publisize a Sunday market and see how it goes.I have had phone calls and meetings with 3 traders who are worried about the Saturday market,many shops will welcome it,Multinationals,Cafes and even Charity shops,but the small independent specialist shops may not if they are selling what they do on the market for 1 day where they sell the same goods over 6.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
I had an appointment to meet Spenser Cork and David Foley this week,but they cancelled at short notice because David got held up at a meeting,they know my point of view,and I think they are looking to work with me on another venture.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Why not spread the market stalls beyond the square towards the subway, so some Dovorians may realise there`s a sea front not too far away
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
From what I have heard, the market is doomed to failure.
Just to put the record straight, it wasn't the Chamber's idea Barry, it was mine, I was talking to people before I became the Dover Business Support Manager back in November.
I had secured funding in exess of £2,500 to promote the market, none of this will be used of course; I now understand that local shops are being asked to take a market stall, which is against the ethos of it and will not generate an increase in footfall at all.
What I wanted to do would have created a massive increase in footfall in Dover and have been an enormous benefit to all the shops here.
The Chamber, in particular Cameron MacSween, is most certainly screwing up the future of Dover and the businesses here; he has been thrown out of two local (small) businesses and upset another small business, nearly bringing the owner to tears.
He has absolutely no idea.
Roger
Guest 674- Registered: 25 Jun 2008
- Posts: 3,391
ROGER
I think it's fair to say you have an axe to grind
At the end of the day it don't matter who's idea it may have been.
Only that is/is it not a good idea
Just a couple of observations:
1. Don't understand why Cllr Bobby Royston is against a market. His hot dog stand is equivalent to a market stall. Perhaps I'll get him to search on
www.confused.com next time I stop by for one of his excellent hot dogs.
2. Moving the market to Sunday will put it in direct competition with the far superior offering at Folkestone. I would think Wednesday the better day as it may encourage those shops that close, to stay open.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i am totally in favour of the market, though as sid points out sunday is the folkestone day.
keith and barry are spot on, the increased footfall should be an opportunity for our local shops.
i sometimes feel that there is no business ethic amongst our local shops, they just look for the quiet life.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I can understand why you are ignoring my posting, but it's not sour-grapes, it's all true.
Roger
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
roger,dont give the day job just yet.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
As I have said on another thread a while back, the market stalls that have been up and running for some time now is run by the greengrocers in Worthington Street, so they obviously feel that a Saturday Market is a winner.
Maybe a winner for them as there is little or no footfall for business in Worthington Street. This may not be indicative for other town centre retailers.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Point taken Sid, maybe businesses in London Road should consider this as another way of increasing their revenue?
