Changes at the Guildhall.

Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
Carole said:



  1. I have to disagree.

    The new shopping centre is hardly going to be huge, it doesnt even have a department store. So while I am really exited about the change for the town, for me personally I will probably only venture over for M&S or Monsoon. I have no interest in Primark or H&M or any of the other younger persons outlets.

    So there IS room for other shops in other developments in other parts of town as long as it is planned right and each bit of the town "knows what it is".

    A town doesnt have to be huge to have a big shoping centre....it just has to have vision and the right leadership.
    You can have a small town, but if the right shops are there then people from other areas will come.

    I do concede though that its getting the shops to agree to come in the first place that might be the hard part.

    The thing is though is that Stafford DOES have money but at the moment those that want quality have to leave the town to find it.
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That's the key issue I think having the time yo go on a regular basis, I used to go to a Pilates class, it was a. Nightmare getting to because of all the traffic, I was so wound in by the time I'd got there just to sit in the sa me traffic going back, so I bought I recommended DVD, now I can do it anytime, waiting for tea to cook, before work, weekends or soon as I get home from work. If you're disciplined enough you get into a routine and can save loads of money in the process.
 
Noah

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
It doesn't all together matter what shops you attract to Stafford people have to get to them. To succeed you can't rely on Stafford residents alone you have to attract people in from the surrounding areas. This isn't happening enough. Why? Transport! Bus services from most surrounding areas are totally crap, few places have rail access so people have to drive. Drive to Stafford, forget it. There aren't enough car parking spaces and they are a pain to get to. So people drive to places further away where parking is easier and more convenient.
 
Floss

Floss

Well-Known Forumite
Noah said:
It doesn't all together matter what shops you attract to Stafford people have to get to them. To succeed you can't rely on Stafford residents alone you have to attract people in from the surrounding areas. This isn't happening enough. Why? Transport! Bus services from most surrounding areas are totally crap, few places have rail access so people have to drive. Drive to Stafford, forget it. There aren't enough car parking spaces and they are a pain to get to. So people drive to places further away where parking is easier and more convenient.
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I was talking to someone recently and was surprised to learn how many ppl travel to penkridge to park (it's free) to catch the train to birmingham!
 
Noah

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Floss67 said:
I was talking to someone recently and was surprised to learn how many ppl travel to penkridge to park (it's free) to catch the train to birmingham!
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I wish taht fewer of them parked in the Penkridge Medical Practice car park.
 
PeterD

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
Floss67 said:
I was talking to someone recently and was surprised to learn how many ppl travel to penkridge to park (it's free) to catch the train to birmingham!
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I get a train every morning and have always been surprised by the amount of people that catch it at Penkridge.
 
Jonah

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
Floss67 said:
I was talking to someone recently and was surprised to learn how many ppl travel to penkridge to park (it's free) to catch the train to birmingham!
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My son has done this. The downside is that the train fare cost more from Penkridge than from Stafford for some reason. Whether that has changed now I'm not sure as it was about 18 months ago when he did it.
 
Jonah

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
Noah said:
It doesn't all together matter what shops you attract to Stafford people have to get to them. To succeed you can't rely on Stafford residents alone you have to attract people in from the surrounding areas. This isn't happening enough. Why? Transport! Bus services from most surrounding areas are totally crap, few places have rail access so people have to drive. Drive to Stafford, forget it. There aren't enough car parking spaces and they are a pain to get to. So people drive to places further away where parking is easier and more convenient.
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Unfortunately, if there isn't enough to draw in Stafford residents then it's highly unlikely that people from elsewhere will visit.
 
pinky

pinky

Well-Known Forumite
Train fare has always been (well for the past 7 years) £2 cheaper to new street. If we go out to Birmingham for the night we always drive down to penkridge. Free parking, cheaper fare and a nicer drive then into town.
 
highguyuk

highguyuk

Well-Known Forumite
The problem with Penkridge is that is was encouraged for years to commute from Penkridge with a small free car park and on street parking.

Eventually, demand exceeded supply and so the car park at the back was built. So when the council decided to remove approximately 20/30 spaces from Penkridge town centre that the commuters could use, they all ended up on the back car park which wasn't designed to hold that many cars. So the parking at the back is rammed and you can't get a space after 740am on most days.
 
c0tt0nt0p

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
highguyuk said:
The problem with Penkridge is that is was encouraged for years to commute from Penkridge with a small free car park and on street parking.

Eventually, demand exceeded supply and so the car park at the back was built. So when the council decided to remove approximately 20/30 spaces from Penkridge town centre that the commuters could use, they all ended up on the back car park which wasn't designed to hold that many cars. So the parking at the back is rammed and you can't get a space after 740am on most days.
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and if you're travelling to New Street you'll have less services to travel on from Penkridge....
 
Noah

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
highguyuk said:
The problem with Penkridge is that is was encouraged for years to commute from Penkridge with a small free car park and on street parking.

Eventually, demand exceeded supply and so the car park at the back was built. So when the council decided to remove approximately 20/30 spaces from Penkridge town centre that the commuters could use, they all ended up on the back car park which wasn't designed to hold that many cars. So the parking at the back is rammed and you can't get a space after 740am on most days.
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It doesn't give the commuters the right to invade the private car park for the Medical Centre. I don't think anyone was encouraged to come to Penkridge, Stafford commuters discovered the free parking & just took over. They have alwats been regarded as a nuisance by residents and parking was restricted in some of the residential streets because of the obstruction being caused.
 
John Marwood

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Penkridge was famous for not having Gary Glitter as a resident once

Not to mention the world famous dance group David and Anna Jones Jet Set who rehearsed at the Hayling Dene Centre

And of course the legendary Dylan greasy spoon The Sunset Cafe

Penkridge on Penk
 
PeterD

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
I wouldn't dream of using penkridge for my commute to Sandwell, even if it is marginally cheaper, the main reason is i can walk to the train station in stafford, I don't need the car, that is the reason I use the train.
 
John Marwood

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
PeterD said:
I wouldn't dream of using penkridge for my commute to Sandwell, even if it is marginally cheaper, the main reason is i can walk to the train station in stafford, I don't need the car, that is the reason I use the train.
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Nice one Bab
 
J

jugdish13

Newbie
tek-monkey said:
When people would even rather drive out of town to catch a train you know we have problems.
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had to do this to the Wolverhampton station about 6 weeks back and all because the last train of the night (from MK) stopped at wolves! Would gladly have took the train from Stafford if there was a return when we needed it. Worst part is that its not gonna cost much to keep a train going to the next stop, 10mins down the track.
Didn't have the option of a late night return on a coach or National Express - of which Stafford no longer has a stop for....not good at all.
 
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littleme

littleme

250,000th poster!
I see that 'Store 21' at the back is closing down......I overheard a conversation where I-motion is taking over Store 21 & HMV, but previously I thought I-motion were going into the old sports shop above....anyone know exactly where they are going?
 
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