Whitebirk planning application.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by katex

I also find the remark from a spokesman representing Peel a little ambiguous .. "no evidence to support the claims that harm will be brought to Accy town centre as a result of this application" No evidence ? (what is it based on then ).. then what no evidence do they have that harm will notbe brought to our centre by this application then !! Think I got that right.

Is it me ?

No, you are quite right. They, Peel Holdings, keep speaking of customer surveys supporting the application. These weren't independent surveys, and probably consisted of asking ten people who had bought a fridge at Whitebirk, if they'd like a bigger choice of stores there.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Gayle

Sorry, can't take part in this one because I support the changes and I believe that the town centre will suffer.

So won't be voting on this one.

respect your point of view,disagree with it though, retail parks are all well n good for people with Transport for one,i believe it will affect our town centres for another, agree with what someone said about the High Rents in town, what dissapoints me though is you sitting on the fence of this poll,fail to see why you cant take part as support is one of the 2 options, always thought you had the streangth of yer convictions.

[garinda]

One thing is for sure, retail parks don't have many, if any, independent or specialist shops there.


Soon the whole country will be serviced by just ten massive companies, which besides being sad, will leave us all at their mercy, and the monopoly they will have, will offer us very little real choice.

[katex]

Originally Posted by garinda

One thing is for sure, retail parks don't have many, if any, independent or specialist shops there.


Soon the whole country will be serviced by just ten massive companies, which besides being sad, will leave us all at their mercy, and the monopoly they will have, will offer us very little real choice.

Ok Garinda, but can only go with the flow on how the market stands at this moment in time, and make an economic decision based on that.

Retail may even go full circle after that and then, and only then when people tire of the mundane and seek out something more 'bespoke' or 'unusual', but that aint gonna happen for some time yet.

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by garinda

If planning consent is given for Whitebirk to sell goods they currently can't, it will be the death knell for retailing in Accrington.

Ten years ago there were five shops/stores were you could buy electrical goods in Accrington, four independents and one multiple, now there are none.

I know the country around Bluewater quite well. What were once thriving towns, in affluent areas, are now deserted, with tumbleweed blowing past the ubiquitous hairdressers, take aways, and estate agents, where once there was an array of independent businesses, servicing the communities many and varied needs.

If Whitebirk does get the go ahead to sell things other than white goods, just watch the gradual exodus, as stores like M & S, Burton's, Argos etc. relocate there, and the smaller independent shops we currently have, disappear altogether.

After sleeping on it (and sobering up), I've changed my mind on this one and voted against. Still think there's some scope for quirky, specialist shops in the Warner Street/Arcade area, but not as a substitute for the major stores.

In particular, Gary's worrying description of what Accy could be like in a few years time has caused my 180o turn. Sorry, Gayle, I would've liked to agree with you just for once, but I can't.

[lindsay ormerod]

My current employers are trying to get a unit on there; I think it will mean that the "big players" in Accy may think twice about renewing leases and we may lose some. Not that we have many anyway ! Shop rents in Accy are ridiculously high for the footfall you get and anything that pulls the shoppers out of town can't be good news.

[Mick]

Originally Posted by garinda

A spokesman for Peel said: "Extensive public consultation has been carried out regarding the Whitebirk retail park application and 90 per cent of Hyndburn residents consulted were in support of the scheme.

well we have a lot of accyweb members that live here in Hyndburn so where you consulted?
i was not !

[cashman]

Originally Posted by mick

well we have a lot of accyweb members that live here in Hyndburn so where you consulted?
i was not !

will be very suprised if anyone even knows somebody that was consulted.

[Acrylic-bob]

Whitebirk, as a retail destination, is pretty uninspired and uninspiring. Something clearly needs to be done about it.Whenever I go past the place all I notice is car showrooms. For one thing the links to Accrington Town Centre really do need looking at. If the Council are serious in their intent to develop the site in competition with Blackburn's Greenbank site then the proposal needs to be given the go-ahead. From their obvious determination to develop the site it would appear that Peel holdings anticipate generating a significant increase in income as a result of the proposal. Consequently, the chicken feed offer of £700K to improve Accrington Town centre and links to it should be doubled, at the very least. The council should also take this as an opportunity to insist that Peel construct something a little more substantial than the usual agglomeration of identikit tin sheds.

The route from Accrington to Whitebirk via Church, Dunkenhalgh and Rishton should also be designated as a retail corridor with enhanced planning, transport and access status; something which could be of benefit not just to Accrington but to two of its "and District" townships too.

Though I hate to use the phrases, what is needed is some "Blue-Sky", "Out-of-the-Box" thinking on this issue. If we look at this as an opportunity rather than an irksome imposition we might get somewhere.

The Council could also insist on Peel Holdings' assistance in the redevelopment of Accrington Town Centre. We have what they want, they have more than enough money and experience to be able to change Accrington and District for the better. If the council go about this in the right way the future could look a good deal rosier than it does at the moment.

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by cashman

respect your point of view,disagree with it though, retail parks are all well n good for people with Transport for one,i believe it will affect our town centres for another, agree with what someone said about the High Rents in town, what dissapoints me though is you sitting on the fence of this poll,fail to see why you cant take part as support is one of the 2 options, always thought you had the streangth of yer convictions.

Can't see why you think I'm sitting on the fence here - I've clearly stated that I support the changes.

I also believe that it will cause the town to suffer. But let's stop and think about the town centre for a minute. Are you all back in your rosy haze about the wonderful town centre that we had thirty years ago or are you actually talking about today's town centre? Because in my opinion the town centre is already dead in its current format.

What is needed is the following:-
An huge influx of development money into the town centre
Some creative thinking that moves away from traditional town centre approaches
Improved bus routes and development plans to alter the routes to the new retail park
A design approach to making the town centre 'look' better - and by that I don't mean just flowers (although not criticising them) but someone who can improve fascias and shop fronts
Something that is an attraction in the town centre - whether it's specialist book shops like Hay, arts stuffs like Hebden bridge or a farm in the centre - something that sets it apart
Creative events in the town centre each week i.e. music, buskers, jugglers etc - all things that enhance the liveliness of the town
Knock a few buildings down in the town centre to open it up and build a better bus station and a more open vibrant market

The town centre is already dead so instead of trying to rebuild it just like it was (that's no longer viable in today's market) do something different.


I think I have enough opinions here to safely say that I am nowhere near the fence at the moment!

[alan7554]

ACCRINGTON a town full of pound shops and take aways,the rents are to high and lets have a new retail park were you can go and browse without stepping in dog sh*te and falling over loose flagstones and floor chippings and slipping on the arndale floor because the roof still leaks

[katex]

Well, the council has now granted a contract to a company of Planning Consultants to submit plans to redevelope the town centre and surrounding areas at a huge fee, so will just have to be patient and see what is afoot.

[garinda]

Can you honestly say that HBC having £700,000 to spend on regenerating Accrinton town centre, will have any lasting, and long term benefits?

Remember, the supposed regeneration of Broadway cost £500,000.

I think not.

[yerself]

I support it. Leave Accrington to the chavs and winoes.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Gayle

Can't see why you think I'm sitting on the fence here - I've clearly stated that I support the changes.

I also believe that it will cause the town to suffer. But let's stop and think about the town centre for a minute. Are you all back in your rosy haze about the wonderful town centre that we had thirty years ago or are you actually talking about today's town centre? Because in my opinion the town centre is already dead in its current format.

What is needed is the following:-
An huge influx of development money into the town centre
Some creative thinking that moves away from traditional town centre approaches
Improved bus routes and development plans to alter the routes to the new retail park
A design approach to making the town centre 'look' better - and by that I don't mean just flowers (although not criticising them) but someone who can improve fascias and shop fronts
Something that is an attraction in the town centre - whether it's specialist book shops like Hay, arts stuffs like Hebden bridge or a farm in the centre - something that sets it apart
Creative events in the town centre each week i.e. music, buskers, jugglers etc - all things that enhance the liveliness of the town
Knock a few buildings down in the town centre to open it up and build a better bus station and a more open vibrant market

The town centre is already dead so instead of trying to rebuild it just like it was (that's no longer viable in today's market) do something different.


I think I have enough opinions here to safely say that I am nowhere near the fence at the moment!

Since you are no longer sitting on the fence (), which buildings would you knock down?