Riverside shopping centre on hold?

[pinky]

I think it's great, I have to travel to Telford or Hanley to visit Primark or h&m or a big m&s, I would assume the surrounding towns do the same, so we are bringing those people to the town, spending money in the car parks, using the new shops but then spending money in shops that are already here, buying food and going for drinks. I think it's going to bring new people to the town and more spent in the town. It will also be bring more jobs into the town which is great.

 

[Jonah]

Stafford is a pale imitation of what it was 25 to 30 years ago and we all know that. It's suffered hugely from the last recession and it will take a long time for it to recover. The new complex is a step in the right direction and for that we should be pleased.

More investment is also needed in the actual town centre, Greengate Street, Gaolgate Street and the surrounding areas as they are showing signs of neglect to me. Unfortunately the 'high street' may well be in its terminal death throes.

Stafford IS a nice place to live but not as nice as it was in past times. In my opinion anyway.

 

[Jade-clothing]

Stafford is a pale imitation of what it was 25 to 30 years ago and we all know that. It's suffered hugely from the last recession and it will take a long time for it to recover. The new complex is a step in the right direction and for that we should be pleased.

More investment is also needed in the actual town centre, Greengate Street, Gaolgate Street and the surrounding areas as they are showing signs of neglect to me. Unfortunately the 'high street' may well be in its terminal death throes.

Stafford IS a nice place to live but not as nice as it was in past times. In my opinion anyway.

I think the same could be said for any town, it's not just Stafford that has suffered. I've already said what I think should be done with the town from Crabbery Street to the Butlers bell. If that area was no longer 'town' as such it would bring a breath of fresh air to the other end with some of the businesses worth keeping moving further up. High Streets that are doing well are diversifying and adding interest and community resources to the shopping areas.

 

[Lucy]

I think we have to accept that shopping has changed because of the Internet, and that change isn't going to reverse. This means towns have to evolve too. Unfortunately many, including Stafford, have evolved too slowly.

 

[tek-monkey]

Just don't get this idea that a new shopping mall and yet another supermarket will help us or the town, particularly when the developers are apparently offshore tax evasionists. After the initial thrill of buying an entire winter Primark wardrobe £12.99 we'll all have to face up to the fact that the traffic jams are worse than ever, half the main street shops are empty and the centre is full of cast off council offices. That's realism, not whinging. According to the Newsletter even the council has admitted there might be a problem.

Saw an interesting map from private eye that showed local property owned by offshore firms, the new developments in Stafford were amongst them. It's not just the businesses you shop at dodging tax, but those they pay rent to as well.

 

[John Marwood]

Proles everyone of us

 

[Malcolm]

I think it's great, I have to travel to Telford or Hanley to visit Primark or h&m or a big m&s, I would assume the surrounding towns do the same, so we are bringing those people to the town, spending money in the car parks, using the new shops but then spending money in shops that are already here, buying food and going for drinks. I think it's going to bring new people to the town and more spent in the town. It will also be bring more jobs into the town which is great.

Without having addressed the creaking and inadequate transport infrastructure first, I think this view is optimistic.

 

[Malcolm]

I think we have to accept that shopping has changed because of the Internet, and that change isn't going to reverse. This means towns have to evolve too. Unfortunately many, including Stafford, have evolved too slowly.

This, on the other hand, is a more realistic view in my opinion.

 

[alphagamma]

Yes, there are plenty of places in a worse state than Stafford (another good tourist slogan?), but how many of them are county towns with huge reserves of public money stashed away?

 

[Malcolm]

Pity they don't spend some of it on what the public want.

 

[tek-monkey]

The problem is the huge reserves of public money are stashed far from the huge reserves of skint public.

 

[Jonah]

Yes, there are plenty of places in a worse state than Stafford (another good tourist slogan?), but how many of them are county towns with huge reserves of public money stashed away?

Do you have any proof of these "huge reserves of public money" or are you talking bullshit?

 

[Floss]

Just don't get this idea that a new shopping mall and yet another supermarket will help us or the town, particularly when the developers are apparently offshore tax evasionists. After the initial thrill of buying an entire winter Primark wardrobe £12.99 we'll all have to face up to the fact that the traffic jams are worse than ever, half the main street shops are empty and the centre is full of cast off council offices. That's realism, not whinging. According to the Newsletter even the council has admitted there might be a problem.

Oh if it's in the newsletter then it must be true

 

[alphagamma]

Do you have any proof of these "huge reserves of public money" or are you talking bullshit?

Read the accounts that councils have to provide.

 

[Jonah]

Read the accounts that councils have to provide.

Provide the link please.

 

[Gareth]

Not sure where these huge reserves of public money are, in understood SSC could be facing a 20-30 million pound shortfall in the next year.

 

[Gareth]

I really think some people just don't get it. The shopping centre will make money
because the retailers pay significant business rates which will be far higher than anywhere is town.

more people will come into town and spend money. Traffic is a moot point, most of it is now completed and I have never gone to a town or city whether it is stafford stoke brum Torquay Bristol or st ives I have got stuck in snail pace traffic sign of the times...just deal with it or walk

 

[John Marwood]

I really think some people just don't get it. The shopping centre will make money
because the retailers pay significant business rates which will be far higher than anywhere is town.

more people will come into town and spend money. Traffic is a moot point, most of it is now completed and I have never gone to a town or city whether it is stafford stoke brum Torquay Bristol or st ives I have got stuck in snail pace traffic sign of the times...just deal with it or walk

Insightful

 

[John Marwood]

Not sure where these huge reserves of public money are, in understood SSC could be facing a 20-30 million pound shortfall in the next year.

Good ole Gideon

 

[Wormella]

more people will come into town and spend money. Traffic is a moot point, most of it is now completed and I have never gone to a town or city whether it is stafford stoke brum Torquay Bristol or st ives I have got stuck in snail pace traffic sign of the times...just deal with it or walk

It's worth remembering there is a large amount of housing in walking distance that probably currently drive elsewhere to go shopping.