Oswaldtwistle Shops

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Alan Varrechia

After 5-odd years, would be interesting to do it again and compare whats left and whats changed.
Not a job for my knackered old legs though.

I recently did the trip from black dog to Church commercial hell there's a big difference, I didn't know half the shops Alan

[Alan Varrechia]

I've lived in Accy for 5 years and the area for 10, and there has been a hell of a lot of changes in just that small time.

[ossylass]

A greengrocers would be great ! In Spain, when it's not market day, fruit and vegetables are sold from the backs of vans touring the streets - produce is fresh and you don't have to carry it far - perfect! But I'm sure health and safety wouldn't allow it in this country.

[Alan Varrechia]

Think you'll find that any Greengrocers/ Butchers, little shops that we all used to rely on haven't a chance now. In the next few years it will hypermarkets or nothing. They may seem cheap now but once they have cornered the market they can charge whatever they like.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Alan Varrechia

Think you'll find that any Greengrocers/ Butchers, little shops that we all used to rely on haven't a chance now. In the next few years it will hypermarkets or nothing. They may seem cheap now but once they have cornered the market they can charge whatever they like.

Got to agree with you there Alan I used to use a greengrocers in Ossy, but it closed a few years ago, people running these shops have to be up about four every morning to get their daily supplies, which must get very tedious after a while, they also used to deliver as well which for me was very handy, but its a sign of the times I suppose

[Bee]

So, was the Co-op/Chemist built in the early 80's, as a Gateway?.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Bee

So, was the Co-op/Chemist built in the early 80's, as a Gateway?.

It started out as a Gateway don't know what the chemist was think it was cohen's certainly wasn't a coop chemists

[Bee]

It was Nash Chemist's, right?.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Bee

It was Nash Chemist's, right?.

Ya now I think about it it was Nash Chemists

[garinda]

How much was that doggy in the window?

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

How much was that doggy in the window?

Ya mean the one with the waggly tail G

[Bee]

Was it-
Gateway
Solo
Somerfield
Co-Op

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Bee

Was it-
Gateway
Solo
Somerfield
Co-Op

Who gives a flying

[Bee]

Originally Posted by Gayle

This is going to be a really long starting post

I’ve just taken a walk the length of Union Road in Oswaldtwistle and done an audit of all of the shops that we have there. I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised in the variety but there are a number of obvious gaps in the market but I’ll get on to that later.

Firstly, here is a list of shops that we currently have. I’ve divided them up into three categories for clarity.

Category 1 - shops that we probably have plenty of.
There are two different types of criteria for this category – either we’re over saturated with them i.e. off licences, or they’re specialist shops that would struggle with competition i.e. the wool shop. So, this is not a reflection on the quality of any of the shops in this category.

8 Alcohol shops (that includes off licences and general stores like the Co-op)
7 Beauty salons (including tanning shops)
8 Hairdressers and 2 barbers
7 Sandwich shops (includes 2 that are also cafes)
3 Chinese takeaways (including Bamboo Gardens)
5 Pizza/kebab takeaways (including Franco’s)
2 Indian takeaways (including Reena’s)
3 Insurance shops
2 Pet grooming shops
2 Card and wrapping paper
2 Chemists
2 Florists
3 Chippies
5 Newsagents (includes general stores that also sell newspapers)
2 Butchers
3 Second hand (junk) shops
2 Launderettes
1 Fitness equipment shop
1 Fitness Gym
1 Sweet shop
1 Model aircraft
2 Kitchen appliance shops
1 Equestrian clobber centre
1 Loss Assessor
1 Tool Hire
1 Wool Shop
1 Vets
8 Pubs


Category 2. Larger stores – self explanatory.
Ossy Mills
1 large pet store
1 largish Co-op


Category 3. Shops that could possibly stand a bit of competition.

If Oswaldtwistle were a thriving town (I actually do think it’s on the up but not there yet), there would be more variety in this category. So you might think it odd that I’ve put the Ladies clothes shops in this category even though we do have five nice ones (there are a couple of very nice ones that have just sprung up) but I think it would be wonderful to be such a thriving town that we could sustain even more choice in this area.

There are also a couple of shops in this category that could do with the competition to make them pull their socks up i.e. they’re very run down or untidy.

1 Homecare
1 Furniture (second hand but high quality)
1 Glass/window
1 Book store (second hand but specialises in antique and rare books)
1 Car parts
1 Charity shop
2 Children’s clothes
1 Post Office
1 Mobile & Computer shop
1 Bank
1 Bookies
1 Estate Agents
1 Decorating shop
1 Funeral
1 Curtain Factory rejects
1 Carpet shop (off cuts only)
4 Ladies clothes shops (high quality) + 1 High Quality Dress Agency


Plus – 1 GUN SHOP – I haven’t put this in any category because if it was up to me it wouldn’t exist at all.
There are six empty shops.

So, what else do we need – I offer these as suggestions for discussion, I’m sure there are many other ideas out there.

Men’s clothes shops
Shoe shops – Adult and children
Video hire
More Ladies clothes shops
Book shop (new books)
Electricals – i.e. TV, videos etc
Gift shops
Pottery/plates/cups etc
Named stores – Next, Claire’s Accessories, Boots – I add this with a reservation, would we be appealing enough to attract a chain store?

What else have I missed????????


The other comments that I have are that we have few physical gaps in the street which restrict flow. We have Ossy Mills at one end but quite a gap before the shops start, then there’s another gap between the Tinker & Budget and the Golden Cross. Somehow we need to find ways to fill those physical gaps in the shopping street.

We really do need a post office separate!. Hate the Co-Op one!!!.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Bee

We really do need a post office separate!. Hate the Co-Op one!!!.

dont disagree, but try telling the royal mail, don't wanna know.