Views on town centre future:

[Gareth]

this Saturday 26/07 the public can air their views in Stafford Market Square where SBC and SCC have appointed URBED and DTZ consultants to look into future town centre proposals mainly the north end.

On the agenda here will be:
-Possible Debenhams location
-indoor Market moving back into the Guildhall
-Town centre housing
-possible multi story at broad Street (Wilkinson's car park)

10am - 4pm on the big red bus

 

[markpa12003]

I'm away this weekend, however I am in favour of more town centre housing. There are so many upper floors of buildings within the town centre that have a separate entrance that could be used for accommodation. This would provide much needed housing, as well as providing a more vibrant town centre and increased security over the public realm.

Not in favour of a multi-storey car park on Wilkinsons car park.

I would be interested to know what locations are being muted for Debenhams. I hope they will be taking space in the Guidhall because it needs a big retailer to attract more footfall. It should also encourage improvements to be made to the centre and encourage more shops to open within it.

I thought the market was already in the Guidhall?

 

[Gramaisc]

I thought the market was already in the Guidhall?

It was, until the Guildhall was redeveloped twenty five years ago, when it shunted off to the side, where it is now, on the site of a chapel (of which, only the tower remains).

The Market was entered via the doorway from Market Square, or the side access from Crabbery Street - which is still visible, though not in public use.

 

[markpa12003]

I never knew that Gramsaic. Relocating the market to its old location (or somewhere similar) may increase passing trade. It also frees up the market for a Debenhams....am I getting carried away?!

 

[Gramaisc]

I never knew that Gramsaic. Relocating the market to its old location (or somewhere similar) may increase passing trade. It also frees up the market for a Debenhams....am I getting carried away?!

That was essentially the argument for not moving it twenty five years ago, but nobody listened then as the Guildhall Shopping Centre would soon be full of Tiffany's and Harvey Nicholls, with others fighting to get in.....


Final day of the old Market - 1989.

 

[McPhee]

Shopping habits change though. Only reason they are looking at maybe putting the market back is because boutique, artisan and local are currently big retail buzzwords. It's cool to shop at the market. Where having big name retailers was the in thing 25 years ago, having a successful market now contributes massively to the success of many town centres.

The only issue I have with town centre accommodation is parking. We need a resident's permit/parking pass. I'm totally put off living in the town by the fact that I'd have to park a long way from home between 8 and 6, and I doubt I'm the only one. Getting up on your day off to move your car on to some crowded side street the best part of a mile away isn't much fun. If building another multi-story helps to create the parking capacity to allow residents a place to park up, I'm all for it.

 

[Wormella]

The only issue I have with town centre accommodation is parking. We need a resident's permit/parking pass. I'm totally put off living in the town by the fact that I'd have to park a long way from home between 8 and 6, and I doubt I'm the only one. Getting up on your day off to move your car on to some crowded side street the best part of a mile away isn't much fun. If building another multi-story helps to create the parking capacity to allow residents a place to park up, I'm all for it.

City / Town Centre living tends to get rid of your need for a car. It's a different way of living - you don't tend to do big shops for instance, because usually you don't tend to have kitchens big enough to store it. It also facilitates commuting by train / walking to work if you work close by.

 

[Glam]

The only issue I have with town centre accommodation is parking. We need a resident's permit/parking pass. I'm totally put off living in the town by the fact that I'd have to park a long way from home between 8 and 6, and I doubt I'm the only one.

We already have this scheme in Castletown. So far it is working ok. You get the odd 1 or 2 parking up during the day, but the parking wardens give them a ticket, and they don't come back.
Evening time after 6 is a different matter, you sometimes have to hunt for a space. And if it's a Friday night, and you aren't working the next day, and have had to park on Sainsburys, it is extremely annoying. But at least the parking permits now mean folk don't park up and go off on holiday for 2 weeks, or they can't go to work all day and avoid paying for parking in the many car parks we have.

 

[Steve_b]

Would be good to Enter the market through the 'Market Entrances'

What are the old Courts above the Guildhall used for now?

 

[Steve_b]

That was essentially the argument for not moving it twenty five years ago, but nobody listened then

Will they listen this time?

 

[Gramaisc]

Will they listen this time?

They might pretend to a bit better.

 

[ben0239]

Are they referring to the north end of town or north end of the town centre. The north end in particular grey friars is a mess with no clear vision of what the area is truly supposed to be. Who ever designed the retail park clearly did not understand that these parks rely on a strong street presence and therefore should not be hidden behind arguably the ugliest building in stafford. I would personally like to see a redevelopment of this whole area with the movement of the job centre back into a town centre location for that building to be demolished and then a possible extension to the retail park. Hopefully this will encourage more occupancy of the units.
From that point until you get to halfords u would personally like to see flattened and started again. The infrastructure in that area does not lend itself to that number of businesses and the ugly setting detracts from the area and what should be the gateway into the town.

With regard to the town centre I would hate to see a multi storey in wilkinson. I can't think of much worse than having two multi storeys adjacent to each other which would make the road in between feel dark and oppressive.

The idea of relocating the market back to where it should be is a no brainer and should be done as a matter of urgency if the council want a thriving market again.

For me the obvious location for debenhams had to be in the guildhall to give that centre some credibilty. I can't imagine there are many shopping centres in this country with so few big names stores.

I would also like to see princess row demolished purely because it is again an ugly building. Then I would like this area tired into a food quarter area with restaurants located where princess row is now and around the square in front of Argos. Ideally this would be covered with a glass atrium to give it the wow factor. Stafford desperately needs to improve its food offering because currently it us pretty poor unless you fancy a curry The only notable exceptions to that are the swan, post house, pastiche, pizza express and the rose and crown.

Additionally I am all for more residential accommodation in town. There are a number of examples in town where the upper floors of buildings are not be used. These should be converted to create a more vibrant town centre.

 

[tek-monkey]

I would also like to see princess row demolished purely because it is again an ugly building. Then I would like this area tired into a food quarter area with restaurants located where princess row is now and around the square in front of Argos. Ideally this would be covered with a glass atrium to give it the wow factor. Stafford desperately needs to improve its food offering because currently it us pretty poor unless you fancy a curry The only notable exceptions to that are the swan, post house, pastiche, pizza express and the rose and crown.

That was my plan for Martin Street, much nicer buildings too.

Additionally I am all for more residential accommodation in town. There are a number of examples in town where the upper floors of buildings are not be used. These should be converted to create a more vibrant town centre.

Most used to be flats, in my student days I knew loads of people that lived above shops all through the town centre. Those that aren't are usually down to being inaccessible other than through the main shop itself so just get used as storage.

 

[Gareth]

What’s the ugliest building in Stafford you mention??
I agree with the food comments and it must be noted within the last 12 months 15 premises in the town centre have had planning approved above ground floor shops etc. So it is slowly improving and councils are coming around to the idea.

I can see the Market moving to its old ground and fronting the guildhall with Wilkinsons moving across to occupy where the market is now and maybe into the back of the Guildhall. With Debenhams then then having a purpose built store with a couple of levels of parking replacing current Wilkinsons/ car park/ and those ugly houses.

Something will have to happen to the Guildhall as Wallis, Evans, Top Shop, could move out as Outfit which is also Miss Selfridge, oasis, warehouse etc will be at Riverside. Also Phones 4 u and River Island will occupy the Riverside site.

The Guildhall is looking a very market type place anyway with the furniture shop, snap and whatever is occupying the old Early learning Centre, this is before you take into account the empty Waterstones, hmv and JJB.
This then could see a small amount of spillage from those left into the high street or side street.

I understand something is already lined up provisionally for M& S but I would like to see this as a food court or varying restaurant area. Proposal will be interesting.

 

[ben0239]

Gareth there are numerous ugly buildings in stafford but the one I was referring too in my post was the job centre building on the a34.

I like the suggestions/proposals that you made in your post and I sincerely hope that they come to fruition.

The guildhall certainly needs to get its act together as I foresee a mass exodus of shops leaving there for the shiny new riverside centre. For me the guildhall had never lived up to its early hype and as always struggled to attract the big retailers whether or not this is to do with poor management or size of units I don't know.

 

[tek-monkey]

I can see the Market moving to its old ground and fronting the guildhall with Wilkinsons moving across to occupy where the market is now and maybe into the back of the Guildhall. With Debenhams then then having a purpose built store with a couple of levels of parking replacing current Wilkinsons/ car park/ and those ugly houses.

As stated by ben0239 I really hope they don't build a multi story on wilkos, it could really make that stretch of broad street dark.

 

[markpa12003]

The building that I hate and would happily demolish is the Santander building in Market Square, closely followed by Boots. I struggle to understand how those buildings were ever approved. They are two very ugly buildings in the most attractive part of the high street (imo).

I will be visiting Market Square tomorrow to see what sites Debenhams are considering. However, I suspect discussions on their preferred site are already well advanced.

 

[Wormella]

The building that I hate and would happily demolish is the Santander building in Market Square, closely followed by Boots. I struggle to understand how those buildings were ever approved. They are two very ugly buildings in the most attractive part of the high street (imo).

I've always quite liked that mix of old and new - it makes Stafford seems like a real town, where you can trace the lineage of it's development then some dated preserved falsehood - but each to their own.

 

[Gareth]

Ah yes I know the building you mean. That whole area need knocking the side a horrible look.

 

[Gareth]

50, 60, 70 80s architecture has alot to answer for in this country. Sad face