Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

[kyoto49]

That because nowadays there are no or few worthwhile schemes on offer for kids, there is no funding for it.

If there was, take up still wouldn't be good because today's kids ( not all) want something different to kids 15- 20 years ago etc. We never had the online and software accesses they do today, most won't leave their rooms now.

Back in the day we couldn't wait to get out and do something

No, the council is too busy wasteing it's money removing graffiti - see my point now? I'd argue that the money spent removing graffiti would be far better spent on holiday sport schemes that not only keep kids entertained but have a positive benefit on health whcih subsequently helps reduce NHS spend as well. I disagree though that it's all about funding. That new place has 1 sports hall, kind of limits any attempt to provide proper sport. roller skating is out, and if you have 5-a side then the hall can't then be used for trampoling and badminton and gymnastics and table tennis. In short, the place is the most retrograde short-sighted bit of fine work by our despicable planners whose only interest in money, not the residents, and yes, I objected and wrote letters to anyone who would listen to oppose the plans at the time. Finally, kids still love sport, ask all those parents who schlep their kids to sports club after sports club every evening, and I'm one of them!

 

[Gareth]

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.

Where in the north end ?? And who on social media, a handful of folk out of 1000s who are more than happy.

North walls was the only vacant slot and this is not as big as the Riverside site.

It also would have been irresponsible to build a multi storey building across the whole of northwalls and be an imposing figure amd blight over Kingsmead marshes. Something the planners would have been blasted for if it had occurred.

Some are forgetting for years the north end has seen all the retail demand.

The south end was dead and was mainly derelict.

Riverside was the right call developing essentially a brown field area....which is rare in itself.

The north end will sort itself out especially if north walls development pulls its finger out.

The outcome long term then will be an extended retail, leisure and employment offer at both ends of the town.

That I think they call that planning

 

[Steve_b]

The south end was dead and was mainly derelict.

Riverside was the right call developing essentially a brown field area....which is rare in itself.

The north end will sort itself out especially if north walls development pulls its finger out.

The outcome long term then will be an extended retail, leisure and employment offer at both ends of the town.

That I think they call that planning

The South was derelict because our council sold it off, fobbed us off with the new swimming pool (with little sport provision), squeezed onto the old TA centre.

 

[Steve_b]

Where in the north end ?? And who on social media, a handful of folk out of 1000s who are more than happy.

Seems Kingsmead would have made a good spot? We never needed another Supermarket anyway.
Tipping Street car park would have been even better.
So perhaps a handful of folk on Social media! (So you say) But where do you get your figures from???

 

[proactive]

No, the council is too busy wasteing it's money removing graffiti - see my point now? I'd argue that the money spent removing graffiti would be far better spent on holiday sport schemes that not only keep kids entertained but have a positive benefit on health whcih subsequently helps reduce NHS spend as well. I disagree though that it's all about funding. That new place has 1 sports hall, kind of limits any attempt to provide proper sport. roller skating is out, and if you have 5-a side then the hall can't then be used for trampoling and badminton and gymnastics and table tennis. In short, the place is the most retrograde short-sighted bit of fine work by our despicable planners whose only interest in money, not the residents, and yes, I objected and wrote letters to anyone who would listen to oppose the plans at the time. Finally, kids still love sport, ask all those parents who schlep their kids to sports club after sports club every evening, and I'm one of them!

There actually is a perfectly good Borough Council subsidised school holiday sport and activity scheme. Monday to Friday of every school holiday except Christmas holidays and bank holidays. It's called Step-Into and I can thoroughly recommend it.

 

[bunique]

There actually is a perfectly good Borough Council subsidised school holiday sport and activity scheme. Monday to Friday of every school holiday except Christmas holidays and bank holidays. It's called Step-Into and I can thoroughly recommend it.

There is - the hours are somewhat limited for working parents though

 

[HopesDad]

I have no idea how much big refurbs cost... but £500k doesn't really seem like much to refurb a shopping centre? Especially when take into account the usually inflated prices from contractors for such things.

Exactly as I said. 500k will soon be swallowed up in a place that size which is so run down, with very little to show for it.

 

[HopesDad]

The South was derelict because our council sold it off, fobbed us off with the new swimming pool (with little sport provision), squeezed onto the old TA centre.

Exactly as I have said previously.

 

[HopesDad]

Where in the north end ?? And who on social media, a handful of folk out of 1000s who are more than happy.

North walls was the only vacant slot and this is not as big as the Riverside site.

It also would have been irresponsible to build a multi storey building across the whole of northwalls and be an imposing figure amd blight over Kingsmead marshes. Something the planners would have been blasted for if it had occurred.

Some are forgetting for years the north end has seen all the retail demand.

The south end was dead and was mainly derelict.

Riverside was the right call developing essentially a brown field area....which is rare in itself.

The north end will sort itself out especially if north walls development pulls its finger out.

The outcome long term then will be an extended retail, leisure and employment offer at both ends of the town.

That I think they call that planning

When they built riverside they were not 'redeveloping a brownfield area'. In order to build riverside they had to demolish a large supermarket, a multi-store car park, a large leisure Centre and a number of smaller buildings. By no stretch of the imagination was that area pre-riverside either 'brown' or a 'field'. Nor was it derelict - all of the buildings that were demolished were perfectly serviceable.

 

[HopesDad]

Where in the north end ?? And who on social media, a handful of folk out of 1000s who are more than happy.

North walls was the only vacant slot and this is not as big as the Riverside site.

It also would have been irresponsible to build a multi storey building across the whole of northwalls and be an imposing figure amd blight over Kingsmead marshes. Something the planners would have been blasted for if it had occurred.

Some are forgetting for years the north end has seen all the retail demand.

The south end was dead and was mainly derelict.

Riverside was the right call developing essentially a brown field area....which is rare in itself.

The north end will sort itself out especially if north walls development pulls its finger out.

The outcome long term then will be an extended retail, leisure and employment offer at both ends of the town.

That I think they call that planning

"The North End will sort itself out" says council puppet Gareth. In what way will it sort 'itself' out? Isn't that the council 's job, to 'sort things out' like this massive problem they have created? There is no planning at all - that is the whole point.

 

[John Marwood]

From their website today ..........

 

[HopesDad]

Haha so the 'anchor' stores are JD sports and poundland. Really does sum up the town doesn't it - the main retailers are a downmarket sports shop and a pound shop. And you wonder why no-one wants to come to Stafford.

 

[John Marwood]

Haha so the 'anchor' stores are JD sports and poundland. Really does sum up the town doesn't it - the main retailers are a downmarket sports shop and a pound shop. And you wonder why no-one wants to come to Stafford.

JD Sports and River Island relocated from the Guildhall some time ago

I'm sure the new pound coin is a sign though

 

[proactive]

Haha so the 'anchor' stores are JD sports and poundland. Really does sum up the town doesn't it - the main retailers are a downmarket sports shop and a pound shop. And you wonder why no-one wants to come to Stafford.

The point, which would be obvious to anyone with an actual knowledge of Stafford, rather than just those with a loud mouth, is that neither River Island or JD are actually in the Guildhall any longer.

 

[proactive]

Snap.

 

[Gareth]

Seems Kingsmead would have made a good spot? We never needed another Supermarket anyway.
Tipping Street car park would have been even better.
So perhaps a handful of folk on Social media! (So you say) But where do you get your figures from???

Where do you ??

But Kingsmead is smaller in size than riverside, they wouldn't have got the retail, cinema and car park on.

Plus, as I stated would people really want a 12 storey car park over looking the marshes ?? I doubt it

 

[Gareth]

"The North End will sort itself out" says council puppet Gareth. In what way will it sort 'itself' out? Isn't that the council 's job, to 'sort things out' like this massive problem they have created? There is no planning at all - that is the whole point.

Your post just shouts clueless.

There is planning, it is just unlucky circumstances that morrisons pulled out due to their own issues. Nobody could for see that.

Otherwise now we would have both sides of town occupied...then job done.

It may not have turned out that way but it will, then you will have 2 derelict sites redeveloped and occupied.

 

[Gareth]

When they built riverside they were not 'redeveloping a brownfield area'. In order to build riverside they had to demolish a large supermarket, a multi-store car park, a large leisure Centre and a number of smaller buildings. By no stretch of the imagination was that area pre-riverside either 'brown' or a 'field'. Nor was it derelict - all of the buildings that were demolished were perfectly serviceable.

My God..... the former Tesco was derelict and the car park was unsafe and unusable

Why do you think it wasn't being used, just shits and giggles.

 

[Lucy]

And awfl, awful 70s (or 60s, I wasn't born) architecture.

 

[tek-monkey]

It made the council building by the river look good!