Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
13 September 2010
07:3470205I do think the town centre will/Is fighting an uphill battle.
All the time theres a p;olicy in place to encourage out of town shopping(Whitfield)
It's going to be very diffocult to encourage other companies big and small to come into the town.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
13 September 2010
07:4170208No one is encouraging out of Town shopping Keith; the new retail park at Whitfield has very strict conditions on it, specifically to reduce any harm it could have on Whitfield.
Developer money of £200,000 will be given to DDC to administer for helping Dover Town.
You may think £200,000 isn't much but it could go a long way to help smarten up the Town and help get people in. I have some ideas of my own as to where the money could be spent.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 September 2010
08:5170229the choice seems to be three empty shops or all 3 full.
i know what i prefer.
all these businesses do there homework, they work out the population, catchment area and the spending power therein.
as things stand the debenhams and the waitroses of this world are not the slightest bit interested in investing here.
13 September 2010
10:3170251I don't mind not having a Waitrose (well, perhaps just a bit.........it's a bit of a pain to schlepp to Hythe!) but I don't think, and I mean it kindly and gently, that a credit shop as the most appropriate investment is the kind of advertisement I appreciate for my town. But, as you say Howard, maybe it's better than an empty shop. I am not convinced though - would we be having this conversation if it was a lap-dancing club (get down, BarryW!!!) or a knocking shop (not sure the difference......)?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
13 September 2010
12:0470269not just a credit shop bern, anyone can pay up front.
on the subject of demographics, i read this morning that lymington in hampshire refused permission to argos to open a store in the town as it would give a bad image.
now they are refusing wetherspoons who would like to open a pub there.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
13 September 2010
12:1670270If only Dover planning dept had been so bold on the Folkestone Road Issues
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
13 September 2010
17:2470306I disagree with you Roger. By placing more and more retail units at Whilfield, DDC is actively encouraging out of town shopping. How effective the restictions you mention are will be seen when/if the one shop, one curry shop, one hairdressers and McDonald's Drive-through survive.
Certainly giving planning permission to Tesco's for the creation of a garage and sale of fuel wiped out the Hammonds Whitfield roundabout complex with the resultant eyesore we've suffered for the last 10 years or so.
The track record of DDC and retail planning leaves a lot to be desired.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
13 September 2010
17:2570308ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
13 September 2010
18:4270350They will be retail units at Whitfield it is true Sid, but some of the planning conditions are that they must be bulk items not snmall ones that could be sold in Dover Town and so will do minimal damage to Town Centre retail activities.
I think the retail world changed when supermarkets were allowed to sell non-food items and this is the main cause of Town Centre damage as almost everything, from wet-fish (yes, I know it's a food item), clothes and stationary to alcohol, electrical goods and pharmacy, are now sold under one company roof.
Roger
