Unregistered User
10 February 2009
15:2215100Taking a look at UBR rebates for Businesses in distress [hardship] & also there is scheme for tiered rebates below £15k.
We have asked local Chambers [from today] to join us in looking at schemes which are available for business support & how to access them.
Visuals [i.e. empty shop fronts] is a scheme which is being explored for Dover with Dover Pride leading & DDC /DTC support. Financial/social inclusion group has been running now for several months & has wide ranging group support.
Increased support has been given to CAB to assist with personal debt counselling etc.
Watty
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
10 February 2009
15:5915102Paul
It's good that DDC are working with local schemes and has increased Cab support, but I went shopping with my wife this morning, like we do every Tuesday, and instead of having to search for a parking space in main car park, like we used to, it was Less than half full. That is a significant amount of cars (shoppers) that are missing from our high street and a significant loss to our shopkeepers and to DDC in Parking Charge Profits. Action needs to be taken and taken quickly. Changes are happening to our high streets at a very fast rate.
"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
16:2115104Thanks Paul and Gary.
Good to hear that things are being done. In the short term - as a simple interim solution - even a lick of bright paint on the boarded-up shops and buildings (thinking among several places, Images in Castle Street, the empty sites in Dover's King Street/Bench Street and Deal's former Regent Bingo Hall and The Strand pub) would improve the visual aspect for locals and visitors, reinvigorate civic pride amid the gloom and show that something is being done, despite the depression (to use McBroon's unspun terminology).
A lot of the problem is about perception, after all. We don't want to drift into broken window syndrome territory in our fine towns.
Regards all,
Andy
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
10 February 2009
20:2115125the heart foundation shop must be over 90% donated, the small electrical items could be purchased cheaper brand new on other shops.
they do seem rather paper work bound though, i donated a few electrical items just over a year ago, couple of TV's various bits and pieces of hi hi units, that sort of thing.
i had to sign a form that i had donated them so that they could claim vat or tax back.
a week later came a letter asking me whether i had changed my mind, if not they would be writing again to tell me what they had been sold for.
i have a few missives since which must gave cost more money in admin than the profit on the goods.
Unregistered User
10 February 2009
21:0315129Sorry Gary , car parking charges are the easy hit when things go wrong. It is more fundimental than that. Dover & Deal's prices are cheaper in premium car parks than Canterbury, Thanet & currently the same as Shepway. We have a range of town centre car parks that are cheaper in different town centre locations. While other districts charge for 24hrs DDC car parks are only chargeable from 9am-6pm & are free, in general, on Sundays. The on street regime is different.The new half hour option is popular & costs people less than putting money in for an hour & getting no change. When people quote Westwood they should recognise the businesses on those complexes pay for free car parking in their rents to the property companies who own the sites. Both Canterbury & Westwood are struggling like our town centres.In Deal two car parks are managed by DDC on behalf of Sainsbury's & Somerfield's who set the pricing i.e. £2 in the case of Sainsbury. As you know I do know some thing about retail patterns in Deal. I have Cabinet colleagues who also know a great deal about High St. trading & the ebbs & flows of custom.You need to look further & identification of High St rents [e.g Martins in Deal rent doubled], uniform business rates, employment & insurance costs, weather,national chains [e.g.Woolworths, Dixon's/Curry's, Johnson & more ] trading results & recessionary effects are more relevant.You will be interested to know bus useage is up 5%-10%, offsetting car journeys.Free car parking does not solve the problem only allows business employees to fill up the spaces early & blocks free flow of customer traffic. Yes car parks look full but punters can't get there because of staff. Pretty perverse effect.We have taken action by freezing charges i.e. no increases for the next two years. The current car parking rates have been in force a year & are embedded in budgets.I could continue but Nigel is the expert on this & I can assure you he looks after the public's interests.We will work with traders on promotional activities & give free parking for co-ordinated events.Watty
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
10 February 2009
22:1315134PAUL,
I wasn't insinuating that car park charges are why shops are shutting, Many reasons, recession, unemployment, fuel prices,rents and rates, even the weather is not helping, what I am saying is everything that can be done to alleviate the problem , no matter how small, must be put into actions, quickly.
"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 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
10 February 2009
22:4015136I heard on the grape that Currys/Dixons are in difficulty and my source,an employee at Head Office,states that there will be redundancies and shop closures as the decline of 'white goods sales' continues.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
10 February 2009
22:5515139i hope that you are wrong marek, but suspect that you are right.
the branch always seems to small for today's white goods stores.
most of their outlets are in retail parks with a large turnover.
11 February 2009
10:5415181"I wasn't insinuating that car park charges are why shops are shutting, Many reasons, recession, unemployment, fuel prices,rents and rates, even the weather is not helping, what I am saying is everything that can be done to alleviate the problem , no matter how small, must be put into actions, quickly."
I agree, Gary. Hence my short-term lick-of-paint solution for the high street chipboard jungles.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
11 February 2009
13:3615187Andrew,
I agree completely, because shops are shutting, does not mean the standard has to drop, I have noticed cars, are starting to park along precinct, not for long, but not something to become a common practise I hope and the whole high street needs sweeping and cleaning, little things but important I think.
"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"
11 February 2009
13:5415189Exactly, Gary. The cosmetic things are very important. It's all about perception, rotten economic climate aside. If the streets and precincts look grotty it encourages grotty behaviour and discourages future investment. A damn good clean and a paint up is needed.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
11 February 2009
14:3615193Perhaps a hit squad ? 5am on a sunday morning, brushes and paint in hand
Been nice knowing you :)
11 February 2009
17:0015203Guerilla decorating!
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
11 February 2009
17:0715205better not tell vic or he will claim udi on all empty propertys in the town.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
11 February 2009
18:1715211Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
11 February 2009
18:2515212vic there are no petrol stations in river,never has been never will be.to snobish to have one in the village or should i say suburb of dover.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
11 February 2009
18:5115217Not one River I did not know that
But there will be and a coal mine
King vic
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
11 February 2009
19:5915233going on to mareks post about currys/dixons arnt they a part of the pc world group.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
11 February 2009
20:0215234vic,no coal mines in river either but i think there might have been a mine of sorts near lyden.just past watersend bridge on the right hand side going to lyden.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
11 February 2009
20:0815236I believe it is very important and urgent that a Dover Business Association is created and to this end, I've written a paper on what I feel should be the responsibilities of a Dover Business Association; I've also created a survey for every business in Dover, large or small to complete.
I've sent this paper to DDC Cabinet members, the Town Council, the Dover and District Chamber of Commerce and Dover Pride.
There are 21 different areas that (I feel) need to be worked on to help Dover move forward.
The current businesses need reassurance that we are here to help and we will; there isn't one single cure for Dover's ills, that's why I have 21 different areas to work on.
Roger
.
