Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
it ceased to be Wyvales and became a British Garden Centres operation.

Is that what happened to it?

Explains why it feels so lifeless now compared to what it used to be just a few months prior. Used to go there but it’s honestly worth going a little further out to Dobbie’s in the other direction.

Can’t put my finger on it, but it just doesn’t seem to be as good as it once was not that long ago
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
*However the EWM box on the new Garden Centre web page for Wolseley Bridge does say "We have fantastic concessions such as Regatta and Bonmarche clothing here at Albrighton." which is odd, and BGC don't have anywhere at Albrighton.

https://britishgardencentres.com/albrighton-garden-centre/

Glad it's not closing or anything - That's a useful restaurant / play area when you're done with the ducks at Worsley Bridge wildlife center
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
@Wormella Ooops. I just looked at their list of garden centres & it didn't include Albrighton. Thinking about it Albrighton may be another Wyevales that has just been taken over.

@Cue BGC took over on the 16th so not sure they would have made much difference yet, I think it has probably felt run-down & lifeless because the change in ownership has been known about for some time and Wyevale lost interest.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
@Cue BGC took over on the 16th so not sure they would have made much difference yet, I think it has probably felt run-down & lifeless because the change in ownership has been known about for some time and Wyevale lost interest.

Ah ok, that makes sense yeah
 

Carole

Well-Known Forumite
Glad it's not closing or anything - That's a useful restaurant / play area when you're done with the ducks at Wolseley Bridge wildlife center

They've revamped the Wildlife Centre at Wolseley Bridge with the addition of a cafe and new car park.
I had a lovely morning there yesterday. I treated myself to a bacon sandwich sitting outside with the dog and then a lovely walk round the lake.

https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/explore/our-visitor-centres/wolseley-centre
 

Noah

Well-Known Forumite
Grandson loves feeding the ducks & geese. They must have revised cafe opening times as it wasn't opening on Mondays or Tuesdays.
 

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
William Hill suddenly closed.
 

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Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
It has been closed all week from when I first noticed.

They are closing loads across the country as online betting has taken over
 

Really?

Well-Known Forumite
Unrelated perhaps but not worth its own thread - does anyone know why they have removed all the metal benches from the centre of town? Seems a bit counterproductive even if it’s for the run tomorrow there seems little point.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Unrelated perhaps but not worth its own thread - does anyone know why they have removed all the metal benches from the centre of town? Seems a bit counterproductive even if it’s for the run tomorrow there seems little point.
They do it for all these "running through the square" type events.
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Yep they do it for every event, have done for years.

Probably the call especially as crowds, public will only access either side of the high street, far less space move around plus the barriers would be sited where benches are.
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Blocking access to The Hough and Queens for a 10k seems like a good way to upset retailers, I must say...

Can’t get any further than the Hough/Riverway crossing. Seems I came right during the short period where it’s closed... but wouldn’t it be better for these things to use the lesser travelled roads instead?

I’m not even sure why the left turn and straight ahead from Riverway are closed either, neither are on the path. Seems you can actually go up Riverway and down Lichfield road towards the Island but not the other way?
 

Gareth

Well-Known Forumite
Stafford moaners will he out if force today.

Can the town not just support and celebrate its events like every other area does in the country
 

Cue

Well-Known Forumite
Stafford moaners will he out if force today.

Can the town not just support and celebrate its events like every other area does in the country

So we aren’t allowed to provide any constructive criticism then? I think it was disruptive and could be planned better so as not to block major roads of the town. A moan would just be “ugh, it’s annoyed me”

The fact that for some reason exits of junctions not even involved in the race were blocked is absurd. I can understand blocking traffic coming out of The Hough and down from Queens, but blocking those going up the unblocked Riverway from doing anything except following the race route is incredibly counterproductive
 

proactive

Enjoying a drop of red.
Stafford moaners will he out if force today.

Can the town not just support and celebrate its events like every other area does in the country
I'm not moaning about the event, or others like it. I like to believe they bring good to the town and it's retailers on an otherwise very quiet day for Stafford. There's certainly anecdotal and empirical evidence of that in Newport, Shrewsbury and Formby, where I have some interest.

Do you know if there is any actual data that shows what the benefits to the town are? Sharing that on here, assuming there is some, might be a way of calming people down.
 

Lucy

Well-Known Forumite
I wonder if they blocked some roads after the hit and run last year?

I shopped in town for the first time in a couple of months whilst the OH ran. He did it in 41 minutes so I didn't have time to visit too many shops...
 
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