howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
interesting post tom, it does seem like the supermarket giants have power over every other body.
the way i see it is that high streets will have to be smaller in future with retail units on the outer fringes being turned into residential use.
hopefully the new mark-micro pubs will take up some units.
What a shame to see Folkestone look like that, but still has some good pubs and nightclub.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
The state of Folkestone's High Street is yet more proof that the High Street as we know it is well and truly dead in the water.
On the other hand the harbour area has improved immensely with the new Rocksalt Restaurant, a new fish and chip shop and the lovely fountains in the square. Even Tontine street has had a facelift and is looking very nice indeed with new shops and some good cafes.The shopping Mall, for want of a better word, is flourishing with Asda, BHS, Primark etc. The arty creative area is very smart, albeit with a few empty premises but is definitely on the up and that end of the High Street with Boots, W.H.Smiths and Debenhams is quite pleasing too. Roger De Haan's money has proved very useful indeed
Sadly High Streets with bustling shops are I'm afraid a thing of the past in most towns now.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
Brian, I got my Meerkat from there
Go Sarah!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
my pictures made things look worse then the reality colette, i was just taken aback this morning when i saw the 3 in the first picture as it seemed very new.
you're right about the rest of the town, everything seems to be going well - the water feature being the newest addition.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Howard, I think the power lies with the consumers who decide where they want to shop.
In Dover De Bradlei Wharf is as good as any Debenhems with its brands & range of offer & would expand more given the chance.
The point again comes back to retail space & economic profile.
Watty
I sort of agree with you Paul and I sort of dont , if you have no car and no internet access then the choice is severly limited to where you can get to .
If you have a car it widens and with internet access and of course a bank account the world literally is your oyster on choice and brand
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i can never work out what subject will catch on here, i started this thread about derelict shops in a town 6 miles expecting a luke warm response.
within about 4 hours, 27 posts and over 200 viewings, another time i start a thread on something i think will catch on,nothing.
all good fun though.
Always worth taking a punt Howard!!
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Following on from your original thread Howard, its a shame that Folkestone is suffering from the retail downturn. I quite like Rendezvous Street it has possibilities big time, but I don't think the arts & crafts market is the right angle. I noticed of late that quite a few of the new businesses in that area have already closed their doors or are suffering, in some cases shortening their opening hours
The Militaria shop there seems to be doing quite well but it obviously covers a specialised marketplace
I still miss the Olde Rock Shop at the top end not only did they sell rock they made it for you in front of your very own eyes, it was wonderful to watch and always drew a crowd. Maybe someone should reopen one before the craft is lost as well as being a money spinner as far as tourism is concerned, Summer months only I suppose but maybe its tied to the past too much.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
It is about shops and what they offer, but it is also about the Town (any Town) itself.
It must look cared for, it must be clean and welcoming and there mustn't be drunks hurling abuse at people when they walk by.
I have written a Tourism Strategy for Dover, a Plan of Action for Dover Town and a paper on how to bring a successful street market to Dover.
I have had some good response from Kent Tourism and Dover Harbour Board and some others, so hopefully when all the comments and suggestions are in and the docs. amended, we will have a set of documents than can be used to move Dover forward - on all levels.
Or they will all be ignored and Dover will make very little or no progress and we're back to square one.
The regeneration of Dover (DTIZ) is coming, but if the (current) Town Centre isn't looked after now, then it will still fail.
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Theres a lot to be done roger(Dover) and at present unlikely to change.
The ditz will help, but not solve dover's problems
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
there was talk of the district council sending out section(forget the number) notices to owners of run down buildings.
not heard any news, i know the town council were pushing for this.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
but there are big copsts involved and councils dont like taking these routes
ask sheila shes been waiting 2 years for the council to enforce an enforcement notice
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
just the cost of a letter keith, people realise that legal costs would be high but experience shows that a letter is over 90% effective in getting premises spruced up.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Section 215s are being worked on as we speak (type), but buildings that have planning applications being worked on, or are in the process of being sold (number 10 is being sold at auction tomorrow), won't have 215s.
A trip to Hastings is being organised and I will be going on it.
Roger
Guest 683- Registered: 11 Feb 2009
- Posts: 1,052
Howard
re #21 are you coming round to my idea of creating a shopping centre in Pencester Gardens? I knew it would only be a matter of time........
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,706
Standard class rail travel?
"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
Guest 652- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 595
DDC are a bit slow in going to Hastings to see what good the 215's have done, DTC did this way back last November, that is why they are pressing for it, and have set aside some money to get things going, but they can't do it alone we have to work together, as regards Keith's post 35 , saying I've waited 2 years for an enforcement order to be put on a property, it is longer than that as Roger knows, 215's enforcement would be different from the planning enforcement.
