Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

gon2seed

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
Feed The Goat said:
Yes, confirmed.

Stafford is on the next list of 75 definitely closing.

Bad news for SBC who presumably after purchasing the guildhall are the landlord.
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You could be write, but I think it really depends on what SBC have planned for it! It's a decent sized unit, prime corner plot, sitting write on the front of the newly refurbished Market Square, that I am told, has been designed to increase outdoor marketing events! Surely a prime sight for someone? or am I being for too over optimistic? (AGAIN! :ohno: Ed.)
 
basil

basil

don't mention the blinds
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Glam

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
joshua said:
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Glam said:
The prison int the only place you can't fly a drone or Helicoptor over. St.Georges is another, due to the Forensic unit on site.
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Gramaisc said:
Plus any Borough Council land, presumably the MOD sites, maybe the hospital (in case of air ambulance activity?) - there may be others...
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We had a tinny little yellow helicoptor come over a few weeks ago. Landed on the old site outside the lovely old building. Site manager had to get in touch with the Police and Prison authorities. Turns out, the pilot was visiting someone, but got a bit of a bollocking for flying over the Hospital.
 
A

airbusA346

Well-Known Forumite
Glam said:
We had a tinny little yellow helicoptor come over a few weeks ago. Landed on the old site outside the lovely old building. Site manager had to get in touch with the Police and Prison authorities. Turns out, the pilot was visiting someone, but got a bit of a bollocking for flying over the Hospital.
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I believe the guy with the helicopter lives in the apartments in the old hospital building. So the helicopter has been 'parked' on the grass numerous times in the past.

Photo 29-11-2023, 11 06 52 am.jpg


Last time I saw it was in November (when I took this photo).
 
Glam

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
airbusA346 said:
I believe the guy with the helicopter lives in the apartments in the old hospital building. So the helicopter has been 'parked' on the grass numerous times in the past.

View attachment 15239

Last time I saw it was in November (when I took this photo).
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I've seen it twice, and we were informed at St.Georges that the pilot was visiting someone there. Either way, he shouldn't be flying over the Hospital.
 
joshua

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/council-buys-desolate-town-centre-9144700

Inside dying shopping arcade where only five out of 20 units are occupied​

The Guildhall was once the thriving heart of Stafford town center


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The arcade can no longer be used as a thoroughfare

Stafford Borough Council has been given the go-ahead to buy a dreary town center shopping arcade. Stafford’s once-thriving Guildhall now lays completely empty bar five shops.
The borough council met in December and announced the authority had successfully secured funds which would be used for the purchase.
Stafford Borough Council are looking for a partner to redevelop the site.
The arcade has around 20 retail and business units, accommodation, an indoor market and a disused car park. The only businesses that remain at the Guildhall are Polka Dot Travel, The Body Shop, The Fragrance Shop, Eurochange and F. Hinds Jewellers.
The arcade was a popular thoroughfare for shoppers between Market Square, Earl Street, St Mary’s Church and Crabbery Street, but now it’s completely closed off. All remaining shops can be accessed from the Market Square entrance.

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Guildhall Shopping Centre Crabbery Street entrance
During its time, the arcade has been home to major brands such as The Entertainer, River Island, Top Shop, Wallis and The Works.

In 2016 a large shopping complex pulled footfall away from the arcade and to the south east of the town. The popular Riverside Development is home to M&S, Primark, H&M, chain restaurants and car parking.
The town center on the opposite side to the complex, namely Princes St, Stafford Street and Goalgate Street, has been completely forgotten about. Around more than half the units are boarded up.

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The remaining five shops can be accessed from the Market Square entrance
Businesses have had to compete with a £100m shopping complex, then a pandemic and more recently the cost of living crisis.
A meeting took place in December to discuss what was described by Councillor Rob Kenney as the ‘number one issue’ for locals.
In the meeting, it was found that bringing the multi-storey car park back into use wasn’t a viable option because of the significant work required.
Councillor Kenney said: “We want residents to be proud of their county town, we want visitors to come and shop, we want people to socialise and spend time using hospitality venues, and we want businesses to invest.”
Council leader, Aidan Godfrey, added: “This is absolutely fantastic news. I am extremely excited about the future of the High Street. There are so many projects - the Market Square, the Station Approach, the Co-op - as well as the Station Gateway - and now this. But they are not individual - they are being looked at together, as a whole project. This is ‘Project Stafford’ and it is great news for the county town.”
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
Just been into town, first time I've paid much attention in years. I see above the old millets is now filled with damp, all the windows covered in condensation but only the middle floor. Thought the roof but as the top floor doesn't look as bad maybe a bit more gardening going on?

Also the old co-op, the damp is so bad the ceilings on the ground floor have fallen in some places and there's pigeons living in it. Some areas had concrete on the floor that looked to have dropped from above, looks like it needs knocking down now, not doing up.
 
Theresa Green

Theresa Green

Well-Known Forumite
IMG_1587.jpeg
The coop will be demolished

The Guildhall shopping centre will be demolished leaving the old frontage

The police station will be demolished

All other buildings will remain as laundries

The Wedgwood Building will have a lick of paint and be relaunched as a business start up centre

Bob Monkhouse has been pencilled in for the reopening

The British Legion and County Officers Club will be condemned

Residents of Castlefields will introduce payfor driveway parking

As will the Conservative Club
 
littleme

littleme

250,000th poster!
Theresa Green said:
View attachment 15255The coop will be demolished

The Guildhall shopping centre will be demolished leaving the old frontage

The police station will be demolished

All other buildings will remain as laundries

The Wedgwood Building will have a lick of paint and be relaunched as a business start up centre

Bob Monkhouse has been pencilled in for the reopening

The British Legion and County Officers Club will be condemned

Residents of Castlefields will introduce payfor driveway parking

As will the Conservative Club
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But can we have a dry ski slope, large crazy golf, roller disco rink, and maybe some cat cafes??? Surely there will be room? Maybe a burger king too?
 
tek-monkey

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
littleme said:
But can we have a dry ski slope, large crazy golf, roller disco rink, and maybe some cat cafes??? Surely there will be room? Maybe a burger king too?
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I remember when the monster raving looney party wanted to turn the EC butter mountains into ski slopes, if only they'd won.
 
T

Tumble weed

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
Just been into town, first time I've paid much attention in years. I see above the old millets is now filled with damp, all the windows covered in condensation but only the middle floor. Thought the roof but as the top floor doesn't look as bad maybe a bit more gardening going on?

Also the old co-op, the damp is so bad the ceilings on the ground floor have fallen in some places and there's pigeons living in it. Some areas had concrete on the floor that looked to have dropped from above, looks like it needs knocking down now, not doing up.
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A mains water pipe burst inside , rang the police , landlord and builder.

Landlord lives in London, so didn't care , the builder's number in the window was laid off two years ago, but he did message the landlord, and the police said they may send someone round to turn off the water.

Looked bad as the water was coming through the side of the building when I reported it.
 
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