Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
9 February 2009
13:3415021I have just received a letter from Johnsons the cleaners. It is with regret that we announce the closure of our branch of Johnsons Cleaners, 71 Biggin street, Dover, Kent on 20th February 2009. The loss of shops seems never ending.
beer the food of the gods
9 February 2009
15:1715023That's a shame. Deal lost its Johnsons Cleaners a few months back too. Yet more unslightly gaps in our high streets.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
9 February 2009
15:5315024I have also heard today that Starburger in Deal is thinking of closing, that area of Deal Highstreet is looking desperate now.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
9 February 2009
16:1815030It is a great shame about Johnsons - sad about any shops closing.
Whether it's a chain like Johnsons, or an independant, the shops that are still here, need reassurance of the support they will be getting, but nothing has yet been announced, so they are unaware that any such support may be forthcoming.
Something needs doing now - not in 6, 12 or 18 months time.
Roger
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
9 February 2009
16:2715034That's a shame, Johnsons have been a part of Dover for some time now, does that mean that Dover has lost its only Dry-cleaners? I can't think of any others.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
9 February 2009
16:3115035Oh dear ! thats more dreadful news. There will just be too many gaps in our main street soon for anyone to actually set out to shop here....even from close quarters. I appreciate what Roger says though, if we want to hold on to whats left we better use them, including the restaurants. Its all very alarming.
Well done Guzzler on getting the news up fast..top man
9 February 2009
17:1815038You're right Gary. Deal precinct is looking terrible. It's disastrous.
Such a rough time for our towns. What can be done to encourage small and large retailers to take over the growing swathes of empty retail outlets?
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
9 February 2009
17:5815039How about DDC using the concept, Rent One - Get One Free! at least that way they will receive rent for one outlet and it will entice new business to commit to the area and fill the empty premises. Everybody gains, the DDC, New Business, the town, community and the customer.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
9 February 2009
18:2015042Do DDC have any shops that they rent out, I assume they only have industrial units ?
Been nice knowing you :)
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
9 February 2009
18:2115043barry w s,elms vale cleaners down pencester road do dry cleaning.also w h smith may be closing but its only a rumor at the moment.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
9 February 2009
20:1715059i was about to mention elms vale cleaners brian, an excellent service, always used them.
much better prices than the other ones too.
i would be astonished if w.h. smug closed it's branch here, there is always a queue at the checkouts.
mind you, it was the same at woollies.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
9 February 2009
20:4115060Perhaps DDC could offer first year free business rates to entice new shops, but they must also be careful in allowing only shops that are needed and not just more competition for the other shop keepers, as I said in other thread, allowing the Card Factory to move into the old Dixons in Deal is very short sited, at least 2 maybe 3 of the other card shop are all fearing the worst and may have to shut.
That's if it is DDC who decides? Is it?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
9 February 2009
20:4815061Business Rates aren't anything to do with DDC, they are just an 'agent' to collect it.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
10 February 2009
08:4515076I heard a report on the news that Charity Shops are booming. People in this awful recession not being able to afford to replace clothes and other items, but particularly clothes, are powering into charity shops in an effort to make ends meet. In this case Dover has boom time coming as the one thing we've got in abundance is...yes, charity shops!!
I saw a nice sofa the other day in the Bristish Heart Foundation shop..thats a good shop in any times. Castle st at Market Sq..if you havent been.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
10 February 2009
10:0115080If shops are thinking of closing, then that reassurance is more important now, before they make that decision, it's too late afterwards
Charity shops are O.K. and raise valuable funds for their charity, but many charity shops sell new things and the idea of a charity shop is to sell items that have been donated - selling new items whatever they are, is causing damage to proper shops that pay proper rates.
The British Heart Foundation shop at the corner of Castle Street/Market square is a charity shop in name only.
Roger
Guest 652- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 595
10 February 2009
11:2015084Roger
The British Heart Foundation Shop that you are on about does sell new stuff, but they also sell a lot of very good quality second hand goods, although new or old it is all donated to them, and this being the case, the prices they charge should be kept low, not charge retail prices, or extortionate prices as they do
Sheila
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
10 February 2009
11:3315085Oops! Clean forgot about Elms Vale Dry-cleaners in Pencester, its sad to lose another Big Name from the High Street though, but, perhaps now fortuitous for Elms Vale Cleaners as hopefully they will pick up more business and remain strong in Dover.
Confused about the Business rates, are they not set by the DDC? and if they are acting as agents is it the KCC who set the rates?
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
10 February 2009
12:0315087NNDR/Business Rates is a central government tax that is collected by the local council and paid to the ODPM (as it was called) and a proportion of that is then passed back to the local council - not sure of the percentage.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) which is a part of HMRC is who does the rateable value assessment to which a pence in the pound charge is applied.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
10 February 2009
13:2715095Paul aka Scotchie, Barry W-S
Thanks for info on business rates. I think I understand it.
Who decides, if anyone, what type of shop is allowed to open in our high streets? Or is it that the owner of shop decides?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
10 February 2009
14:0615099I just hope that in these desperate times the layers of bureaucratic red tape can be waived wherever possible to actively encourage small businesses and new retailers.
Just look at our depleted high streets and we can see that the rules of the game have changed, after all.