Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Virtually all of them. The precinct behind the old co-op and old Woolworths is now virtually a derelict no-go area. Not much left in salter street. The card shop has gone, Co-op has gone, M&S has gone, millets closing down, shoe zone closing, even the recycled furniture shop going. Not many left now. Council puppet Gareth will say, no doubt, that end of the town is thriving! Haha

What has it got to do with the council ??

North end thriving......never said it was, it has goy a problem which may get worse until north walls is sorted.

That said to say virtually all the shops have gone another exaggeration.

First off it is not as if the likes of new look, burtons, dot Perkins, m&s have left the town.

With regards to what is left I think the likes of accessorize, hadleigh, ryman, butlers bell, nero sports, direct, monsoon, Edinburgh wollen mill,.bright house, spec savers, mad hatters tea emporiumn, mikeshakes and oatcakes, peacocks, argos, iceland, home bargains, salter st toys, cup of cha, the vine, the gym place, the fancy dress shop and the others I have no doubt missed off- thriving it may not be but the above maybe slightly insulted your all of then comment.

No doubt millets and shoe zone are using a negotiation tactic for the umpteenth time, time will tell if they succeed.

Added to that in the north end and salter street there are 2 more that have been let and another under offer.

I am not all doom and gloom like you, could it be better no doubt my views covers both sides of the coin, healthy perspective and taking into consideration outside aspects, like economy and trends that are issues nationwide. Not the one sided, self serving,agenda pushing views of yours.
 

Steve_b

Well-Known Forumite
What has it got to do with the council ??

Was the council not behind the Riverside development? Which encouraged retail from the north to move south?

Didn't a company representing local commercial landowners in the town centre, object to the application amid concerns it would have a “significant adverse impact upon the rest of the town centre and was on the edge of the centre, outside what could be considered Stafford’s “primary shopping area”?
 
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HopesDad

Don't feed the troll
What has it got to do with the council ??

North end thriving......never said it was, it has goy a problem which may get worse until north walls is sorted.

That said to say virtually all the shops have gone another exaggeration.

First off it is not as if the likes of new look, burtons, dot Perkins, m&s have left the town.

With regards to what is left I think the likes of accessorize, hadleigh, ryman, butlers bell, nero sports, direct, monsoon, Edinburgh wollen mill,.bright house, spec savers, mad hatters tea emporiumn, mikeshakes and oatcakes, peacocks, argos, iceland, home bargains, salter st toys, cup of cha, the vine, the gym place, the fancy dress shop and the others I have no doubt missed off- thriving it may not be but the above maybe slightly insulted your all of then comment.

No doubt millets and shoe zone are using a negotiation tactic for the umpteenth time, time will tell if they succeed.

Added to that in the north end and salter street there are 2 more that have been let and another under offer.

I am not all doom and gloom like you, could it be better no doubt my views covers both sides of the coin, healthy perspective and taking into consideration outside aspects, like economy and trends that are issues nationwide. Not the one sided, self serving,agenda pushing views of yours.
It SHOULD have everything to do with the council. It is they who are charged with PLANNING the development of town for the benefit of its residents.

But that is what word happen in a normal town with a proper council.

In Stafford, the council would say it is nothing to to do with them, not their responsibility, and their puppet mouthpiece Gareth will defend that point of view. Council will argue that, having sold off the town's assets to a developer it is not their concern what that developer does with the assets, provided that all payments, into the council till and otherwise, have been paid.
 

HopesDad

Don't feed the troll
What has it got to do with the council ??

North end thriving......never said it was, it has goy a problem which may get worse until north walls is sorted.

That said to say virtually all the shops have gone another exaggeration.

First off it is not as if the likes of new look, burtons, dot Perkins, m&s have left the town.

With regards to what is left I think the likes of accessorize, hadleigh, ryman, butlers bell, nero sports, direct, monsoon, Edinburgh wollen mill,.bright house, spec savers, mad hatters tea emporiumn, mikeshakes and oatcakes, peacocks, argos, iceland, home bargains, salter st toys, cup of cha, the vine, the gym place, the fancy dress shop and the others I have no doubt missed off- thriving it may not be but the above maybe slightly insulted your all of then comment.

No doubt millets and shoe zone are using a negotiation tactic for the umpteenth time, time will tell if they succeed.

Added to that in the north end and salter street there are 2 more that have been let and another under offer.

I am not all doom and gloom like you, could it be better no doubt my views covers both sides of the coin, healthy perspective and taking into consideration outside aspects, like economy and trends that are issues nationwide. Not the one sided, self serving,agenda pushing views of yours.
Didn't you just KNOW that is what he was going to say.

Just because half the shops are closed and the other half empty doesn't mean they're not thriving!!

Planet Gareth BS tap fully open today it seems.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Was the council not behind the Riverside development? Which encouraged retail from the north to move south?

Didn't a company representing local commercial landowners in the town centre, object to the application amid concerns it would have a “significant adverse impact upon the rest of the town centre and was on the edge of the centre, outside what could be considered Stafford’s “primary shopping area”?

Correct in both cases, but that is not part of this discussion. As I said to Hopes Dad remark, what is my opinion about the town got to do with council.

To feedback on your remark about some traders being against the development, it is worth noting that most of Stafford most popular traders were for it, as were the council as were the public.

It is also worth noting that the Arcadia were pulling out of town. Top shop, wallis, evans burtons and dot perkins were leaving when the leases were up.

So riverside has kept businesses in town. Riverside in my view is a good thing, brings many of the big names in one roof,sizeable shops, more employment, new shops to town, development of a derelict area of town, and larger business rates.

Consider that many on this forum were complaining the town had little to offer and was dying well before the first hole was dug on that site.

Now it is up to the council, landlords, property and business owners to plug the gaps left.

Shops that are closing now are not to do with Riverside, those would have been struggling for a while I am afraid to say.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Didn't you just KNOW that is what he was going to say.

Just because half the shops are closed and the other half empty doesn't mean they're not thriving!!

Planet Gareth BS tap fully open today it seems.

Eh??????

That lost males no sense. You contradict yourself twice in one post- amazing
 

Steve_b

Well-Known Forumite
To feedback on your remark about some traders being against the development, it is worth noting that most of Stafford most popular traders were for it, as were the council as were the public.
Seems the public via social media do not share that view. Yes to the development, but it should have been built in the north of the town.
 

HopesDad

Don't feed the troll
Eh??????

That lost males no sense. You contradict yourself twice in one post- amazing
Don't know about 'lost males' but the sentence which I assume you refer to as contradictory is actually taken from your own post.
 
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Steve_b

Well-Known Forumite
I went to Cannock yesterday, Wilco's had a sign in the window stating they were closing the store at the end of the month, but would be available on-line.
Anyone know if this all their stores or just the Cannock store?
 
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