Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#1
A garden shop.Not everyone has transport to gets garden centres.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
Can't really see that happening as as much of the stuff sold at garden centres is of low value and takes up a lot of space which is why they are normally out of town. Wilkinson's in Folkestone do a good range of garden stuff but not the really big items.
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#3
A couple of ideas about what to do with empty town centre shops:-
How about doctors and dentists moving into town centres freeing up what are often large converted Victorian/Edwardian homes in the 'suburbs' for accommodation?
How about an internet start up hub like they have in Folkestone (and loads of other towns) ? This is where the future of employment lies.
http://www.thefactoryfloorfolkestone.co.uk/Judith Roberts and howard mcsweeney1 like this
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#4
a deli would be nice
Jan Higgins and howard mcsweeney1 like this
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#5
Yes Brian good idea.What was that shop years ago Home and Cologne and Mcfisheries
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#6
I think you mean Home and Colonial Sue.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#7
That's the one Howard So long ago forgot the correct nameWhat a joy those shop were.I cannot stand large shops.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#8
Wilkinson is the one shop Dover really needs but for some reason does not seem to want to come here, they expect us to go to their Canterbury or Folkestone shops.
Judith Roberts likes this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#9
Regarding a business incubator space - this is something that is being looked at by a number of parties.
Frankly until rental values drop and the valuations officer assesses business rates at realistic levels little will change in town centres.
The key is to recognise that shopping has changed and that there is only a limited number of things people prefer to buy in bricks and mortar shops rather than virtual ones; these include groceries/food, some clothing/shoes - though mostly fashion rather than staples, jewellery/presents & of course services that cannot be obtained on line such as hairdressers etc. The high street needs to change to reflect this and to incorporate a wider variety of service and leisure provision.
Judith Roberts and howard mcsweeney1 like this
"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
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#10
Ross I understand some of your post although a lot of goods can be bought on line you still need some quality shops Tenderten is one of my favourite places to visit .Dover does not need anymore cafes and take away shops.D T I Z needs more than one anchor store.When I stat on the committee that discussed the plans I thought we would get quality with better quality shopping.Not lots of cafes.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#11
Meanwhile Lidl plans to open new supermarket at White Cliffs Business (sic) Park, Whitfield, Dover.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/new-lidl-store-planned-for-98167/"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#12
Meanwhile Sainsburys doing well in Deal (Hint. It's all down to demographics)
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#13
All town centres including Dover's need to cater to what people want, this is rapidly becoming a mixture of
General Retail:
Food, clothing, footwear, household goods, jewellers, fancy goods, small furnishings & homewares
Services:
Hairdressers & beauty treatments, medical, telecomms/IT repairs, legal, accountancy, advisory (CAB, local government, employment), property (estate agencies, rental agencies)
Leisure:
cafes, take aways & restaurants, public houses & off-licences, entertainment venues, gallery spaces etc.
Where towns like Tenterden, Lewes, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Brighton etc excel is having an eclectic mix of offerings in the first and last sections above skewed particularly to independent traders, this provides quirkiness, and a sense of the unique.
"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
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#14
Yes Bob it is indeed but put more simply it is down to the level of disposable income
"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
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#15
The places Ross refers to in his last paragraph have a very different demographic to Dover, we only have to look at Deal with their successful independent shops to know the difference.
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#16
Hence why we need a variety of housing. Farthingloe & other planning permissions reflect that variety & the need for changing demographics.
howard mcsweeney1 and Judith Roberts like this
Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,829
#17
Take a look at Canterbury,big stores and lots of small independent shops and all seem to make a good living.I always prefere to spend my money in our town whenever possible but Canterbury really is a great place to shop.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#18
Can't compare a rapidly expanding city like Canterbury with a smallish town like Dover. Their wonderful cathedral is just a short walk from the bus station and a railway station unlike our castle which has an hourly bus service for those who can reach the Town Centre. The money is in Canterbury so shops will thrive there.
Judith Roberts- Registered: 15 May 2012
- Posts: 637
#19
Paul is right. Dover needs good quality medium and large detached family homes with garages. This will bring in and keep professional and skilled workers in Dover. We need the District Council to actively encourage a change in the demograhics of Dover. All the new developments seem to be flats and/ or aimed at elderly people. It would be great if young people growing up in Dover aspired to live in Dover itself rather than moving to Whitfield, Deal, Canterbury or further afield. Dover town has a relatively small population and cannot compare with Canterbury which is much larger, has many more visitors and two universities.
Ross Miller and howard mcsweeney1 like this
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#20
It is a catch twenty two situation with regard to housing, we also need really affordable quality new housing for those who want to get on the housing ladder prior to those same people moving up that ladder. We certainly do not need more flats or house conversions like those up Folkestone Road.
Judith mentions the buildings aimed at the elderly and I disagree with her view, the elderly when they move into these new smaller properties free up housing more suitable to those with young families.
Judith Roberts likes this
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
