Guest 2418- Registered: 14 Dec 2017
- Posts: 37
Oh I don't know. How about spending some money fixing the pavements and street lighting, enforcement officers stopping drunk and disordely behaviour rather than worring about the odd cigarette being dropped. How about free car parking, how about doing something about rents or stopping landlords converting retail into illegal dwellings, stopping fly tipping?
Bob Whysman likes this
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
how about golden pavements and street entertainers while we are at it.
howard mcsweeney1 likes this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
It seems to be generally accepted that traditional town centres cannot survive in the age of online shopping if they don't adapt. We see locally micro pubs, nail bars, gyms, tattooists, hairdressers, dog parlours, cafes and the like doing well. There is a dance academy and the Big Local Hub is usually busy in the Charlton centre. A lot of current retail will go over to residential in the fullness of time.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/companies/claires-is-entering-a-new-chapter-in-life-bankruptcy/ar-BBKrUQI?li=AA9SkIr&ocid=spartandhphoward mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
PaulineQuick wrote:Oh I don't know. How about spending some money fixing the pavements and street lighting, enforcement officers stopping drunk and disordely behaviour rather than worring about the odd cigarette being dropped. How about free car parking, how about doing something about rents or stopping landlords converting retail into illegal dwellings, stopping fly tipping?
Pavements in the town centre are being upgraded this Spring, street lighting is only a couple of years old, there are no illegal dwellings and as for stopping fly tipping that is up to the public to report on to DDC who prosecute if they have the evidence.
Guest 2418- Registered: 14 Dec 2017
- Posts: 37
Brian Dixon wrote:how about golden pavements and street entertainers while we are at it.
Not sure if dog muck would go with gold and there is already plenty of street entertainment from the drunks and homeless.
Bob Whysman likes this
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,941
Howard (for once) is correct! It is for a council to deal with the stuff that might stop people visiting a town centre which includes lighting, seating, state of pavements, anti social behaviour, fly tipping.
The High Street will only survive when it provides things which we can not get on-line. Cinema, gym, micro pubs, nail bars, gyms, tattooists, hairdressers, dog parlours, cafes are just some of them. We are social animals and the High Street needs to become a place of social interaction. I could add doctors and dentists to the list. Accommodation above shops and also replacing some shops means the streets are not left to ne're do wells at night.
It's only when footfall reaches a critical level that things like a much needed Tesco Metro (other brands are available) will follow as sure as night follows day.
Rents are a matter for the 'market' and unfortunately, as long as we continue to tax income rather than capital I can't see there's much a council can do.
As for business rates, it would be unfair I would suggest for a council to reduce these for businesses which just happen to be in a designated 'High Street' while leaving them 'high' in a similar shop 100m away? Would we be encouraging 'zombie shops' just as we have 'zombie businesses' hanging on in there due to artificially low rates of interest which would be better closing since they are not actually providing anything that people want at a price they are willing to pay? Would some shop keepers actually be better off pulling the plug before they do something silly like re-mortgage the house again, hoping like Micawber, that something will turn up?
I wish there were simple solutions. If there were the country would be full of thriving High Streets. It is'nt.
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Bob Whysman
- Registered: 23 Aug 2013
- Posts: 1,934
Do nothing and nothing happens.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,941
"We are living in very strange times, and they are likely to get a lot stranger before we bottom out"
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Guest 1165- Registered: 21 Jan 2014
- Posts: 22
I love our High Street (obvious reasons) and to be honest despite the decline in footfall in recent years there is a real sense of positivity in the Air down here amongst other shops as well.
The problem high street traders are finding is they are not evolving their model to be successful on the high street it's an absolute must that you are online, social media and other means.
Negative Headlines will only get into your psyche if you let them.
Judith Roberts likes this
Bought a house in the south of France the locals we're Avignon of it
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Exciting news for those of us with a sweet tooth, casting my mind back they had their eye on a vacant unit in King Street.
https://www.kentlive.news/whats-on/food-drink/7-places-kent-kaspas-says-1373153Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
The main problem with Dover no decent clothes shops.It seems all we need are places to eat food.Only one decent men's clothes shop,no hard wear outlets DTIZ in its conception had the means to bring decent shops to Dover.People with money will not visit the cheap end of the market.Sandwich still has class.
Jan Higgins likes this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
De Bradelei wharf has a wide range of clothing with plenty of brand names just outside the town centre.
Chris- Forum Admin
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 17 Oct 2009
- Posts: 357
You've got Allan Hughes and Burton in the town centre, with Next opening later in the year. Between them and De Bradelei they cover most age ranges and budgets - it's not a huge number of shops, but better than one.
Button
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 22 Jul 2016
- Posts: 3,028
County Brides and New Look too.
Chris likes this
(Not my real name.)
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Don't think I need Country brides !I think Hughes are very good and I do buy from there.De Bradlerie like a jumble sale .Canterbury and Sandwich it is.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,806
I am with Sue on this subject, I will continue to buy my large size clothes and Hotter shoes on line which is a shame.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,741
Dont forget Peacocks,theyve got loads of clothes and the new Poundland at St James has a clothing dept upstairs,prices are good but they cater more for women than mens.What we could do with is a large electrical store like Currys .
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Good news - B & M have confirmed that they will take over the M & S unit once it is vacated.
Judith Roberts and Brian Dixon like this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,860
I do like B and M's
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS