Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

[Jade-clothing]

Sorry to hear that @Jade-clothing

Thanks Wormella. I've always got other things on the go though. I still sell ladies clothing so will have more time for that now

 

[Jade-clothing]

Oh what a shame! Sadly bras are something I don't buy more than once or twice a year but I've always been to Saffron for them since I've lived in Stafford!

Thank you for your custom Bunique. Everything in the shop is reduced now if you need to stock up.

 

[kyoto49]

Not all local trade is dying, it seems, we have a funeral director on Greyfriars that I haven't noticed before - http://www.jillsamphierfuneraldirectors.co.uk/ - in the old SARH offices.

Been there a while now. No idea how trade is.

 

[proactive]

It seemed dead when I drove past.

 

[John Marwood]

Hello Honky Tonks

I always use Dick Emery

 

[Happy Chappie]

With all the shops standing empty and now more closing down we are turning into a ghost town at this rate.
Why is nothing being done to entice new shops to open up, if rents are to high then why don't they reduce them for a while. Surely better than having all these shops standing empty for so long!

Alas Stafford is turning into a doughnut town. Stafford Borough Council need to encourage new independent enterprise urgently. They should be offering minimum rates of rent to entice new business.

 

[Trumpet]

I understand that the council are currently offering discounts on business rates to new businesses.
If landlords did their bit too it would help.

 

[tek-monkey]

I understand that the council are currently offering discounts on business rates to new businesses.
If landlords did their bit too it would help.

They say that, but they are also currently upping the rateable value of all the shops in town too. My OHs place has gone from rate free to having to pay, whilst some much larger premises in better positions are still free

 

[Gareth]

Well part of that is due to changes in government legiation about how rateable values are determined, local councils are not the decision makers - simply a collector for money that locally see do not see enough of.

Of course landlords are the most culpable for when it comes to over valuation.

But as much as anything, it also comes down to the public`s shopping habits.

We moan about councils, government, landlords, retail parks and the internet doesn't help......but fact of the matter is these shops and independents have always been there but are slowly disappearing because people aren't using them.

Rents and rates could be free, but if people still don't go and use these shops they won't make the money to be sustainable.

People need to get off their arses and stop making excuses, this is something we can actually influence by getting down and using high streets.

It is really something when a chap I have worked with in stafford town for 4 years or so stated last year that he could not believe the town centre didn't have a fishmonger, fruit and veg nor butchers shop, someone in this forum also said something similar.......really???!!!!

Proves my point that someone who had worked on the doopstep these places doesn't know about them even though he bloody walks past 2 of them at least twice a day.

Get out folks, support these shops and see what`s out these independents and others.

 

[Zylo]

Surprised "absolute beginners" hasn't closed yet, maybe i'm wrong but i've not see none person in there yet

 

[Wormella]

Thanks Wormella. I've always got other things on the go though. I still sell ladies clothing so will have more time for that now

I miss your dress agency a lot - I still get excellent mileage from the dresses I got from you years ago =D

 

[Steve_b]

.

People need to get off their arses and stop making excuses, this is something we can actually influence by getting down and using high streets.
Get out folks, support these shops and see what`s out these independents and others.

If it wasn't so hard to get into Town, I'm sure more people would use it! Car parks closed, built on or flooded. What happened to the 'increased' on-street parking? Cuts to bus services, no bus station. Was in town today, in the Market Sq, Car Sales, come on!

 

[John Marwood]

If it wasn't so hard to get into Town, I'm sure more people would use it! Car parks closed, built on or flooded. What happened to the 'increased' on-street parking? Cuts to bus services, no bus station. Was in town today, in the Market Sq, Car Sales, come on!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Box-Canvas...d_t=1401&pf_rd_p=489124887&pf_rd_i=1000799743

 

[John Marwood]

I follow Mybrakitty

Hard shell travel cases for bras and pants

 

[Gareth]

If it wasn't so hard to get into Town, I'm sure more people would use it! Car parks closed, built on or flooded. What happened to the 'increased' on-street parking? Cuts to bus services, no bus station. Was in town today, in the Market Sq, Car Sales, come on!

There you go, the typical Stafford excuse. Like Stafford is the only town with traffic lights, road works, congestion, car parks you pay at, its rains in.....blah blah blah.

 

[tek-monkey]

There you go, the typical Stafford excuse. Like Stafford is the only town with traffic lights, road works, congestion, car parks you pay at, its rains in.....blah blah blah.

I know a few people who drive to aldi in stone rather than into town to do a weekly shop, purely because of the traffic.

 

[Steve_b]

There you go, the typical Stafford excuse. Like Stafford is the only town with traffic lights, road works, congestion, car parks you pay at, its rains in.....blah blah blah.

Wow, now that's a typical Council reply! Oh Gareth, you still don't get it! It's not about excuses, it's about getting something done about it! If people prefer to use their cars then proved for them. Retail parks provide car parking for their customers and thrive. Our town centre needs to do the same! If the car parks were closed at the Queens Retail Park, Dunelm and the Range, just how long would they continue trading? The Town Centre is no different!

 

[Steve_b]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Box-Canvas...d_t=1401&pf_rd_p=489124887&pf_rd_i=1000799743

Lol

 

[Jade-clothing]

I miss your dress agency a lot - I still get excellent mileage from the dresses I got from you years ago =D

Ah thanks Wormella. A lot of saffron customers were the same ladies who came into my shop and they say the same. It's a pity I couldn't have found an affordable shop when the lease ran out.

 

[Jade-clothing]

Well part of that is due to changes in government legiation about how rateable values are determined, local councils are not the decision makers - simply a collector for money that locally see do not see enough of.

Of course landlords are the most culpable for when it comes to over valuation.

But as much as anything, it also comes down to the public`s shopping habits.

We moan about councils, government, landlords, retail parks and the internet doesn't help......but fact of the matter is these shops and independents have always been there but are slowly disappearing because people aren't using them.

Rents and rates could be free, but if people still don't go and use these shops they won't make the money to be sustainable.

People need to get off their arses and stop making excuses, this is something we can actually influence by getting down and using high streets.

It is really something when a chap I have worked with in stafford town for 4 years or so stated last year that he could not believe the town centre didn't have a fishmonger, fruit and veg nor butchers shop, someone in this forum also said something similar.......really???!!!!

Proves my point that someone who had worked on the doopstep these places doesn't know about them even though he bloody walks past 2 of them at least twice a day.

Get out folks, support these shops and see what`s out these independents and others.

This is so true. Saffron has been there 11 years but every single week we get ladies coming in who live in Stafford saying they didn't know we were there.