BRFR Cake Stop 'breaking news' miscellany

[First Aspect]

I think retail parks have a lot to do with the demise of town centres. Free parking and the kind of shops that used to be on the high street: Boots, TKMaxx, the modern equivalents of Woolworths like BandM and The Range, and fast food outlets. The ones round here are packed at weekends.

Which is why I cannot understand councils making town centres so hard to visit and so uncompetitive on costs for businesses. Those retail parks are just US strip malls and once you have spent time in places where that's all there is (which is much of middle America), you come to loathe them even more.

 

[CXRAndy]

As I type, I local Labour MP is posting on FB claiming that she is pushing the Government to help our local Labour Council, revive our local High Street.

The high street in question is not in decline, it is totally dead.

Nothing has been done to save the high street businesses for decades.

Crushing rents and business rates, crippling profits till shops barely get by.

They begin to look drab, run down, unappealing to visit.

And they want 15 min living arrangements

 

[First Aspect]

It also isn't clear what JD Vance is doing there.

I know, he's observing the collapse of European civilization first hand.

 

[Psamathe]

By that logic people in apartment blocks subsidise those living in 4 bedroomed properties in suburbia.

That's effectively what happens when everyone pays the same price.

It's one of those weird things that is unquantifiable eg People living rurally are subsidising those in built-up areas for eg the street lighting (infrastructure, electricity, maintenance, etc.).

 

[BoldonLad]

I'm not sure I agree with your assumption that correcting business rates won't have a significant impact. As I said before, why should personal home delivery be the cheapest option?

Why do you think that "the cheapest option" is what is required?

IMHO, it is a balance between price, convenience and availability.

An example (which does not, strictly speaking, involve the High Street). Recently, I needed to replace a Kitchen Tap. I knew what make/model I required, I shopped around, online, found the cheapest option (Screwfix). I have the option of two branches, both within 3-4 miles, I chose the one with best parking option, and typically least traffic en-route, did "click and collect" to buy said tap. Whilst fitting the tap, I found I needed either replacement isolating valves, or, two male-female adaptors. Quick check online, two new isolating valves were cheaper than two adaptors, Screwfix was slightly cheaper, but, not available until next day, Toolstation had stock, marginally dearer (about 50p) but, nearest branch has poor parking options and the route there is traffic congested. On balance (ie getting the job done), I opted for Toolstation. As I said, it is not all about price, it is much more nuanced than that.

 

[Pblakeney]

Which is why I cannot understand councils making town centres so hard to visit and so uncompetitive on costs for businesses. Those retail parks are just US strip malls and once you have spent time in places where that's all there is (which is much of middle America), you come to loathe them even more.

My Dad formally objected to an out of town shopping centre in the early 80s.
Okay, there was more than a little self interest as he was a small shop owner on the high street but he foresaw today.

 

[BoldonLad]

I wonder if the decline started many years ago when the (now) big supermarkets moved out-of-town. I remember as a child Mum going to a small supermarjey at one end of a High Street - a High Street that then also included butcher(s), grocer(s) so some stuff from supermarket, other from the more specialist shop.

Also there are a lot of "vested interests". Some have businesses that can't move online (eg pubs) others own High Street properties (where value drops if High Street declines), etc.

Several years back local publican (only pub in village) had been losing money for years, couldn't sell because it wasn't a viable business, she got diagnosed with cancer so only way for her was to apply for planning permission to convert to residential use; at which point lots of objections as many wanted village pub to stay as village pub even though none of those objecting ever actually used the pub. Other local pubs only business is trades stopping off for a pint on their way home on a Friday, deserted rest of the time.

This in spades. All kinds of things have changed in my lifetime, for example (without much thought, and, by no means a complete list):

- more women have full time jobs, my mother shopped several times a week, we didn't have a fridge, we didn't have a car, so, you had to carry what you bought)
- more people live "out of town
- there are more option for "things to do" rather than the necessity of Food shopping

 

[briantrumpet]

As I type, I local Labour MP is posting on FB claiming that she is pushing the Government to help our local Labour Council, revive our local High Street.

The high street in question is not in decline, it is totally dead.

horse flogging dead a

I'm not sure I've got those words in the right order, mind.

 

[briantrumpet]

Yeah I just spent a few days in the Alps and I can see the appeal. Brexit has been a real bummer for long term plans.

It's almost enough for me to start to dislike Brexit and mention it frequently.

Anyway, looks like retirement in Leeds then.

 

[Rusty Nails]

It's almost enough for me to start to dislike Brexit and mention it frequently.

Anyway, looks like retirement in Leeds then.

Yebbut think of all the French people who are denied the chance of retiring to Leeds.

It’s an ill wind….

 

[briantrumpet]

hmm... I wonder what the average age is, here on NCAP, there has to be SOME under 60's?

IIRC, you and Mr Nails are helping keep the average up, even if you're still in your 30s physically and mentally.

 

[Rusty Nails]

IIRC, you and Mr Nails are helping keep the average up, even if you're still in your 30s physically and mentally.

I’m still waiting for my prime

 

[briantrumpet]

I’m still waiting for my prime

I thought that was supposed to come the next day?

 

[Rusty Nails]

I thought that was supposed to come the next day?

It can’t come tomorrow, I have a hospital appointment.

I’ll look to see if if they’ve thrown it over the garden wall while I’m out.

 

[briantrumpet]

It can’t come tomorrow, I have a hospital appointment.

I’ll look to see if if they’ve thrown it over the garden wall while I’m out.

If you're lucky you'll get a nice picture of your prime...




... in someone else's porch.