howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 February 2011
13:0692724a report out today shows that 1 in 7 retail outlets throughout the u.k. is empty, in some small towns the level is 2 out of 5.
it is predicted that the overall figure will rise to 1 in 6 over the next 18 months as the austerity measures kck in.
we don't seem to be suffering as much as other towns.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
15 February 2011
13:5392727Margate has been identified as among the worse in the country.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 February 2011
14:0092729margate and ramsgate centres are like ghost towns, westwood cross has done a lot damage.
ramsgate has an excellent waterfront with pubs, cafes and restaurants, that must have an impact on the town.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
15 February 2011
14:1792735It's a shame to see so many Estate Agency boards and Charity shops nationwide, the death knell of the local/specialist shop has sounded all over the UK (internet notwithstanding)
Soon tumbleweed will be rolling along the deserted streets of Dover.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
15 February 2011
14:3892739Margate and Ramsgate will suffer further - massive expansions have been approved recently for Westwood Cross...
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
15 February 2011
15:2692742As has been said many times, there is no longer any need for all these shops. They have been replaced by out-of-town sheds and the internet. Most can be converted to houses, bringing people back to our town centres and reducing the threat to greenfield sites. Nothing wrong with charity shops, the more the merrier. They are recycling centres for the obscene quantity of unwanted paraphernalia which our theoretically bankrupt society generates.
Guest 679- Registered: 7 Sep 2008
- Posts: 162
15 February 2011
16:2192749Howard's right, Dover's nowhere near as bad as many towns. Good news is that two long-standing empty shops are about to be filled. The empty charity shop opposite Marks & Spencer has a sign in the window saying 'Luggage & Handbag shop coming soon. Also, rumour has it that wreck of a place opposite Boots will soon be a furniture store (flat packed type stuff). A friend of mine went for an interview for one of the positions this morning. Fingers crossed for him!!
I know a million ways to always pick the wrong thing to say
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,878
15 February 2011
16:4292751Barry W-S, and what is wrong with charity shops!
They have to pay the going rate for rent on their premises the same as all the other shops or would you rather have yet another boarded up shop front.
Good news about the new shops that are opening.
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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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howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
15 February 2011
17:0892758i rather like charity shops, i like indoor plants and get all my ceramic pot holders from them.
all the staffordshire potteries have gone now so in a normal shop you can only get a cheaply made chinese version.
i have about a dozen old pots all bought from charity shops that have the names of the english manufacturer on the bottom.
another thing c.d.'s, i would not buy one new normally unless i was certain that i would like the artist, this is a nice way out.
good news from jeanette on the two new shops(plus poundland), i thnk flat pack furniture will sell well here.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
15 February 2011
17:2292761barryw-s,must report tumble weed in town this afternoon,very few people,lots of puddles as well.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
15 February 2011
17:4592767Good post Ed, that makes a lot of sense. The one opposite boots will be the furniture chappie from the indoor Market in Pencester moving round the corner.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
16 February 2011
00:0092804Jan Higgins,
I will tell you what is wrong with charity shops. They pay no business rates, so in effect the other shops that are struggling to survive are subsidising them.
Whether you like the idea of charity shops is immaterial, there presence sets a very low standard of retail outlet, and the sooner they are kicked out of town the better.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
16 February 2011
07:1792812Perhaps the new luggage and handbag shop is also from the indoor market.
Good to see so many shops opening in Dover - certainly bucking the (National) trend.
We need to tell everyone this is happening, generate more shoppers, to everyone's benefit.
Roger
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,878
16 February 2011
09:3292819Jimmy, I respect your opinion but object to your phrase, " there presence sets a very low standard of retail outlet".
Would you have said the same about the secondhand shops that they have replaced.
Charity shops provide a much needed service to the less well off, maybe you are affluent enough not to need their services but many do.
BTW I believe we pay reduced rates, I know we do not get our rubbish collected to offset that.
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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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Guest 687- Registered: 2 Jun 2009
- Posts: 513
16 February 2011
09:5392822Jimmy you are totally missing the point of charity shops. If they weren't there we would be a much poorer society as the funds they generate improve the lives of those for whom the charity was set up. What they sell would be destined for landfill sites and those that frequent them would not necessarily buy new if the charity shop option wasn't there.
Those that go to charity shop initially go to browse and treat it as a social event and tend to buy on impulse whereas those buying new have a specific purchase in mind when shopping.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 February 2011
10:1592825Better a charity shop than an empty shop.
There is not exactly a que of retailers wanting to come into Dover being blocked by a lack of retail space.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
16 February 2011
11:4192831maybe if ddc and its partners got there fingers out the money pie got on with the ditz scheme to provide new shops etc at resonble rents/rates,big,small and medium companys might be intrested in coming here.apart from ditz area the rest of the town needs soting out,like leval puddle free paths,drains that drain the water away etc.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
16 February 2011
12:1892837It looks as though I have inadvertently put a cat amongst the pigeons
I have nothing against charity shops per se, just making an observation that in quite a few towns that charity shops are filling empty shop premises (which is a good thing, better a charity shop than an empty one). I use them myself sometimes, as you can come across some interesting bargains.
16 February 2011
23:0392922Dear Jan,
I have no desire to get into a slanging match with you (A woman always has the last word).
I agree that they (charity shops) pay the going rate for renting these properties. but despite what you would like to believe they do not pay business rates. How fair is that on the other traders who do pay business rates??
Apart from the point about rates can people like yourself not aspire to something more positive than a dirge of chrity shops?? last time I was down town I counted 10?? the way things are shaping up in Dover they will soon be the majority of commercial businesses.
Perhaps if you could spend some time dragging your brand new tory MP (not my choice)into the town centre, perhaps when he has seen what a state it is in he could have a word in CLLr Watkins ear.
Hopefully he may just tell our esteemed leader to extract his digit from his rectum and do something to improve the town.Then possibly there would be no need for charity shops.
P.S One of those rare occasions that Barry W and I agree on something!!
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,926
16 February 2011
23:1092923Jimmy
I Think in fairness to many forumites they share your view.
Lot's of heads need banging together to get Dover moving.
theres a lot of people striving for a better Dover, all working hard in this aim.
It's fair to say we have a planning dept in Dover that looks at reason's why we cant do things, rather than why we can.
-In my short years on the council I used to get very frustrated at the short sighted policies of the planning dept, i'm sure if Roger and Vic were honest they would agree.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS