Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
I am unconvinced that this statement is, for the most part, realistic.

Have you tried to drive anywhere else?

Getting into the centre of the town is not really any more difficult than getting to any other part of it, 'retail parks' included.

Ultimately everything is driven not by how you get there but by what you do when you're there.

If you have to drive, you have to park. That is the limiting factor.

Where is the bus stop @ Queens retail park?

I used to live in Cannock and it was better than Stafford. There were all manner of alternate routes. But from Wildwood area of town you have very little choice of routes and all of them are busy and are now much much busier than when I moved here in Dec 2009. You can't add a whole new bunch of houses and expect things to be the same. There's loads of new homes at the old Police HQ and they want to build even more.
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
I used to live in Cannock and it was better than Stafford. There were all manner of alternate routes. But from Wildwood area of town you have very little choice of routes and all of them are busy and are now much much busier than when I moved here in Dec 2009. You can't add a whole new bunch of houses and expect things to be the same. There's loads of new homes at the old Police HQ and they want to build even more.
If I recall correctly, whoever did the traffic survey for the new houses on the Police HQ, said that there would only be a difference of four vehicles (or another such nonsense number) at peak times when all the houses were occupied.

That estate, coupled with the Red Row estate opposite the Crematorium have significantly increased the traffic around the Baswich area, especially along Baswich Lane.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
If I recall correctly, whoever did the traffic survey for the new houses on the Police HQ, said that there would only be a difference of four vehicles (or another such nonsense number) at peak times when all the houses were occupied.

That estate, coupled with the Red Row estate opposite the Crematorium have significantly increased the traffic around the Baswich area, especially along Baswich Lane.

It's not like there's never any queues. When I used to commute to Stafford 2004-2009 there were always queues on the A34, Baswich Lane, Beaconside. When I was commuting to the tech park from Weeping Cross area I used to leave at about 7.45am at the latest and there was still traffic then. Stafford's roads can't realistically improve now, any new roads would be turned down for "environmental impact" as there's a lot of marshy areas where birds nest etc.. So I'll oppose every new build development going until something gets done.
 

gilesjuk

Well-Known Forumite
The council will be quaking in its boots, no doubt.

Yeah well walk around Stafford high street, it's hardly thriving is it. The town has turned into another soul-less commuter town where people live in it but don't spend much money in it (other than food).
 

Len's Lens

Well-Known Forumite
Just spoke to the guys in game and yes they are moving into sports direct by the end of the month.
I walked past Game this evening and they were indeed packing up, which is a shame. A poster said they were moving into Sports Direct as suggested. Whereabouts will they be in that store? Hidden amongst the hockey sticks? Will they be towards the front? It'll certainly feel strange to walk into a sports store to buy some PS/XBox games, also if you have to search inside to find them. Is there going to be a new Game sign outside SportsDirect to indicate they located within?
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
I walked past Game this evening and they were indeed packing up, which is a shame. A poster said they were moving into Sports Direct as suggested. Whereabouts will they be in that store? Hidden amongst the hockey sticks? Will they be towards the front? It'll certainly feel strange to walk into a sports store to buy some PS/XBox games, also if you have to search inside to find them. Is there going to be a new Game sign outside SportsDirect to indicate they located within?
The Game 'store' in the Sports Direct Birmingham branch is on the very top floor, as far away from the entrance as possible.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
The Game 'store' in the Sports Direct Birmingham branch is on the very top floor, as far away from the entrance as possible.
Some things like this seem to be almost compulsory in 'marketing' - like charity shops always having the men's clothing right at the back.
 

Jonah

Spouting nonsense since the day I learned to talk
It means that you walk past all the tat Sports Direct sells first and buy it all before you get to Game.
 

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
Is there going to be a new Game sign outside SportsDirect to indicate they located within?
Can't see that personally, sports direct itself is closing in the next few months and relocating to Riverside. At most, they'll be some posters in the window.

Tbh, when it was Woolworths the entertainment counter was to the right hand of the store. The stock room is probably still there , so they could easily open that back up.

Tbh, it's not all bad , both have similar audience's.

I'm more concerned about the future of the current sports direct when they leave the premises.

I hope it doesn't turn into another blot on the high street, and gets re-let quickly. I mean, the Fraser Group might, although extremely unlikely, keep the plot for another one of their businesses.

That part of towns actually on the up, I noticed the old betting shop down there looks like it's been let now too .
 

Theresa Green

Well-Known Forumite
How long before the Deliveroo /Just Eat fad ends?

I’m presuming venture capital is funding these until only one remains at which point the cost to use will rise considerably

And parking will once again be available on the 30 minute bays

Porklife
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
How long before the Deliveroo /Just Eat fad ends?

I’m presuming venture capital is funding these until only one remains at which point the cost to use will rise considerably

And parking will once again be available on the 30 minute bays

Porklife
If you look at the costs they add about 25% to most items then charge a delivery fee, and I'm sure they have agreements with the big chains for a % of the business they send their way?

The amount of delivery drivers you see though tells me if nothing else we'll have an even bigger obesity crisis on our hands soon, maybe the extra fat layers will keep them warm when they can't afford to heat their homes?
 
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