Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,741
Seen today,The Stuff shop in London rd is up for sale.
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,043
Yes sir it is but has been a very long time he is a very nice person to talk to,he also is a farmer and has his own farm he would like to sale Stuff as a going on business .
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
So, is the lack of town centre down to shops not wanting to be here , or lack of initiatives from councils , or something else ?
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,043
I hope the music shop does open up again it was good and the music room he had out the back was good.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
The issues with town centres are multiple and include (roughly in order of impact)
a) changing shopping patterns - on-line, out of town malls, home deliveries etc.
b) landlords - excessive rent demands, failing to maintain/modernise premises etc.
c) lack of free/low cost parking
d) footfall - falling numbers in town centres caused by the above
e) poor street scene, physical layout and lack of events discourages people to come to town centres especially if they do not need to shop
Local authorities can make a modest difference to c & e and communities can make a difference by choosing to shop local making the effort to meet people to socialise in town centres and press their local authority to put events on etc. they could also develop a neighbourhood plan that would inform the local authorites planning and licencing decisions.
Jan Higgins and ray hutstone like this
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Dover Pilot- Registered: 28 Jul 2018
- Posts: 345
Ross Miller wrote:The issues with town centres are multiple and include (roughly in order of impact)
a) changing shopping patterns - on-line, out of town malls, home deliveries etc.
b) landlords - excessive rent demands, failing to maintain/modernise premises etc.
c) lack of free/low cost parking
d) footfall - falling numbers in town centres caused by the above
e) poor street scene, physical layout and lack of events discourages people to come to town centres especially if they do not need to shop
Local authorities can make a modest difference to c & e and communities can make a difference by choosing to shop local making the effort to meet people to socialise in town centres and press their local authority to put events on etc. they could also develop a neighbourhood plan that would inform the local authorites planning and licencing decisions.
The same issues which have been produced as reasons why Dover high street is in such decay for many years however I can't help noticing that most other Kent high streets are doing far, far better.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Provide better seats .Get the bus routes sorted.
The Gov likes this
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
We are at one Sue
But looks like on the buses more cuts on the way
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Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,802
I last ventured into the main shopping area when I had to get my covid booster jab. Sitting on my mobility scooter I am uncomfortably jolted as the pavements are so badly maintained and many of the so called dropped kerbs are barely dropped. I now buy most things I want online and must admit I no longer really enjoy shopping of any kind anymore.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
I agree Dover Pilot
Which I, and many others have mentioned many times .
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,480
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,802
Always sad when a long established local business closes. Many, many years ago when we lived in Deal they were our butchers also when we first moved to Dover and again when I moved back here, I only stopped buying my meat from them when they moved down to Market Square.
So sorry for the staff who have lost their jobs.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,936
An unfortunate sign of the times.
Most of us can remember going shopping on a Saturday in our local town.
Queuing up to be served in first the butchers, then the bakers, then the grocers etc, it took all afternoon.
I'm honestly surprised that Rooks has lasted this long with Sainsburys/Tesco/Morrisons/Aldi/Lidl/Waitrose providing a one-stop shop, and that's before we take in to consideration on-line shopping delivering almost anything I want to my door.
On the plus side (and as I have said I have travelled extensively over the UK over the past two years on my narrowboat visiting town centres as I go) in Deal this will leave only two large shopfronts empty + one small one (change of lease I believe).
There is still a living too be made with niche shops selling stuff people want at a price they can afford. It's not easy. It also involves excellent presentation and customer service but it is possible.
The one that really surprises me still trading is town centre W H Smiths?
"Shall we go, you and I, while we can? Through the transitive nightfall of diamonds"
victor matcham- Registered: 5 Oct 2021
- Posts: 1,043
Dover is not doing that bad one close then one opens Stuffs is sold and open ,that did not take long good shop to.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
What we need is a decent fish monger.
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,028
(Not my real name.)
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Where are today’s posts.Jans and mine are missing
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Lo and behold they have appeared.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
Quite a shame Rooks going , but I never understood the Dover shop moving from town centre to market Square .
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Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
The idea was to get more shops moving to that part of the town to link up with St James.Now that idea has gone out of the window .Bank closed .Market Square being dug up ..Seems one half doesn’t know what the other is doing .I
im not sure about our library facilities .Watch this space .