Shopping Centres And Markets

BERNADETTE · 27-11-2008, 18:38

Having been out of town shopping twice in the last week it got me wondering why our council can't seem to provide us with a decent shopping centre and market. Surely it can't be that hard to achieve!!! Went to Leeds on Saturday and though quite a journey one well worth making if after a decent shop IMO. Then on Tuesday was at Burnley and even though it wasn't market day there were still stalls open. At least when you go to their market you are dry unlike ours. Even the choice of shops in Burnley shows Accrington up. So come on council get your act together before everybody deserts Accrington.

lancsdave · 27-11-2008, 18:48

I've never realised how gloomy the outside market is until I was stood there for seven hours the other day

Burnley market is a lot brighter and the alleys are wider which makes it a more pleasant experience.

Hopefully the improvements to the Market Hall should make a difference to that, but I don't think there are any plans for the outside.

flashy · 27-11-2008, 19:11

hey they are even closing down the charity shops in Accy now, oxfams closing...what else does Accy have going for it apart from all the charity shops? NOWT!!!

The kevolution · 28-11-2008, 16:16

I'm afraid that Accy isn't a particularly tempting target for those looking to open a retail business. It's a comparatively small town that has had difficulty supporting the conservative numbers of retailers that it has - unless they sell mobile phones or video games.

You cannot lay blame at the council for this when even the Arndale (Which people once said would sound the death-knell for retail in the town) regularly has empty units.

Since it became so easy to travel it's become too tempting to go elsewhere and let's face it Accrington has always been sandwiched between two bigger towns and has never been going to compare with the shopping we get in most city centres.

I've run a few retail businesses in my time and would be very hesitant about setting up in Accy, not because of the council but simply because the town doesn't draw enough footfall from outside.

lancsdave · 28-11-2008, 16:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by The kevolution

Since it became so easy to travel it's become too tempting to go elsewhere and let's face it Accrington has always been sandwiched between two bigger towns and has never been going to compare with the shopping we get in most city centres.
.

It's not that many years ago that Accy market was a good market and attracted lots of out of towners. I used to live in Nelson and often preffered Accy market to the extent of bypassing Burnley on the way. a good market will attract people in.

garinda · 28-11-2008, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Having been out of town shopping twice in the last week it got me wondering why our council can't seem to provide us with a decent shopping centre and market. Surely it can't be that hard to achieve!!! Went to Leeds on Saturday and though quite a journey one well worth making if after a decent shop IMO. Then on Tuesday was at Burnley and even though it wasn't market day there were still stalls open. At least when you go to their market you are dry unlike ours. Even the choice of shops in Burnley shows Accrington up. So come on council get your act together before everybody deserts Accrington.

Accy market is now like it used to be on none market days, before the powers that be decided to move it.

The once thriving three day market is now on it's knees, and the only people responsible for this sad state of affairs are in the Town Hall/Scaitcliffe House.

garinda · 28-11-2008, 19:52

...and it's nothing to do with people's changing shopping habits.

Burnley, Bury, even Clitheroe have the thriving markets Accrington once had, in the not so distant past.

BERNADETTE · 28-11-2008, 22:41

Quote:

The kevolution. You cannot lay blame at the council for this when even the Arndale (Which people once said would sound the death-knell for retail in the town) regularly has empty units.

Of course we can blame the council who in their wisdom decided to take a perfectly good market and half the bus station away to provide what can at best be described as a shambles on both counts!!! As for units being empty in the Arndale who dictates the rents if it isn't the council? They are to blame for the rapid demise of our town IMO.
And no it isn't easier for me to shop out of town as I have no transport but it is certainly much more enjoyable.

cherokee · 28-11-2008, 22:55

I remember accy when it was a pleasure to shop down there, The council IMO got greedy with high rents in the arndale after the first year and saw many of the smaller shops closing down thereafter .
Ive never really liked the new look accy and I stand by what I have always said . Why change something that works.?
The one thing I love about being in Blackpool is shopping. I think we now have a really good shopping experience here with exception to our poor market hall , which like accy is getting emptier and emptier through a greedy council.

andrewb · 28-11-2008, 23:02

The new market is so well looked after that they've prepared for Christmas early. Next time you're around have a look in the roof space, the Christmas decorations have been there since it opened.

As for rents, on Monday there was a reduced price of £5 a stall. A grand total of 14 stalls were there, 4 of which taken by the fruit and veg stall which is always there. This is out of a capacity of 92.

Perhaps the real issue is that stalls are struggling for custom, rather than a stranglehold on rent.

Catch 22, people will only come if the town has good shops/market, and good shops/market will only come if there is people to sell to.

BERNADETTE · 28-11-2008, 23:06

But they are only struggling since the council changed something that wasn't broken. Why not just leave it as it was? Plenty of shoppers around then but it is such a shambles now that it puts people off

lancsdave · 28-11-2008, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewb

As for rents, on Monday there was a reduced price of £5 a stall. A grand total of 14 stalls were there, 4 of which taken by the fruit and veg stall which is always there. This is out of a capacity of 92.

Monday isn't a standard market day though.

It would be good if Accrington had some small shops in the centre which were designated to businesses which don't already exist in the town, make it different to other towns ( which I seem to think you mentioned i another thread andrew ). Why should anybody come to Accrington if there is nothing different to the bigger towns.

It would also be good if they offered these small units for a rent free period to start-up businesses for local residents

andrewb · 28-11-2008, 23:17

Very well made points. Whens the next council meeting?

garinda · 28-11-2008, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewb

Catch 22, people will only come if the town has good shops/market, and good shops/market will only come if there is people to sell to.

Many of the traders, who move round from market to market each day, stopped coming to Accrington, when the council decided to move the market in the first place.

Since then the number of traders has dwindled, and so has the foot fall. Why would you make a trip to wander round a pathetic little market, full of empty stalls, and have the rain trickling down your neck?

There's the old adage, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Sadly many of the people we have in charge haven't the slightest clue about running a successful enterprise, and I wouldn't trust them to be the banker in a game of Monopoly, nevermind in charge of a multi-million pound budget, which they think gives them free reign to come up with more and more ludicrous ideas, the moving of the market being one of them.

lindsay ormerod · 29-11-2008, 00:08

It's only gonna get worse, the " big names " in Accy are struggling, has anyone tried to buy a cd in Accy recently? Hmm, WH Smiths or Woolies? Well , Woolies has no stock and Smiths has no staff.
Absolutely pointless, I went out today to get a pair of pyjamas for my 7 year old niece, I tried in 5 stores before I found a pair in the right size. Rubbish stores, rubbish stock and no choice.