Broadway Shops

[Stanleyguy]

I had a walk through the new development on Broadway on Saturday prior to going up to the Crown Ground to watch Stanley.

Whilst it is a definite improvement on the old outside market, why is there still a feeling that it isn't yet finished? I was surprised to see that there are several units empty, which seeing how busy the area was, I was at a loss to understand. Are the rents too steep, or are the businesses not around to snap them up?

Wasn't there going to be a pub/restaurant there?

When the development was being planned, I remember reading that there needed to be sufficient pre-lets to persuade the bank that there would be sufficient rental income to repay the loans given to the developers.

Either someone, somewhere is losing a lot of money on the units being empty, or the profit margins are so great that they can afford not to let them.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Did you look at the Peel Street side where the occupant of one unit has already been and gone? Perhaps that answers the question.

We didn't need any extra retail development. We already have empty shops in the town - why build more?

What we do need is a decent bus station and more space for the outside market - but isn't that what they got rid of in order to build this latest white elephant?

It's a bit like moving the clock in the Arndale so they can put in an open cafe where people are allowed to smoke (in a smoke free Arndale centre!) What we really needed there was somewhere to sit and a clock (which we already had!)

[Perran]

As far as I am concerned the new development is an out of place, poorly designed, ill thought out eyesore. Little effort has actually gone in to trying to make it blend in with the rest of Broadway. It makes the whole street look off centre and unbalanced. As for the market, there is little shelter from the elements and on several occasions I have seen traders packing up early to avoid the weather ruining their stock. Even on calm days there is a breeze blowing through it. The whole place looks like its been up for years already and in need of a face lift.

The shops on the Peel St section of the development have no real chance to survive, hidden behind bus shelters and with little passing trade it does not surprise me one has gone already.

Anyway, got that off my chest now!!

[Darby]

One of the sure certainties in Lancashire is that it will rain, be cold and windy...or all of them at once. Now who wants to go shoping when you are outside (mainly) in the rain etc.

A fully covered indoor market (yes.... we have a small Market Hall), that is not windy cold or blowin-in rain, would attract people to come shopping. Since Accy was founded we have had nothing sensible (apart from the Market Hall), that encourages large numbers of people to come shopping in relative comfort!

The latest hare-brained scheme, shows that little has changed and ideas fail with consumate ease.

All around Europe we have shopping Malls (to use an Americanism), and they attract large numbers and wealth to the merchants (look at the Trafford Centre). What can Accy offer, that is unique? An enclosed and roofed town centre would be a little different, and by extending the open market into Peel Street (closing Peel street to traffic permanently), and covering it in, we may have something different.

But the "here we go again" syndrome is clearly visible.

[WillowTheWhisp]

HBC should consult AccyWeb when they are looking for ideas. That's an excellent suggestion there Darby.

The old outdoor market which may well have needed updating was at least under cover and a lot better than the improved version.

They haven't even bothered covering all the walkway between the market and Wilkinsons. Now if Broadway were covered too that would be something! It would make more sense than having an open air cafe there.

Talking of cafes - now that this ban on smoking in enclosed public places is to come into force will that mean that the cafe in the Arndale has to comply? Does it qualify as an enclosed area? Ity's more of an open area within an enclosed area but it will be interesting to see how the law applies.