Where Do People Work

[AuroraSaab]

What I'm questioning is why people seem to want to save our High Streets when people don't want to use them any more.

I suppose because they are the centre of communities and not everyone has a car to go to retail parks or out of town mega supermarkets. I think it's valuable to have local independent shops that you can walk to rather than the market dominated by half a dozen big names on retail parks and half a dozen big online retailers.

Unfortunately the way we shop has changed. People call on the way driving hime from work or do recreational shopping at weekends. They want easy, free parking. Unless councils start offering big incentives smaller retailers and town centres will continue to go downhill. The ones I visit that are busy are in poorer areas where people don't have transport to go elsewhere or conversely in posh areas where the shops have turned into bars and restaurants. These are packed on Thursday to Sunday but the town is empty during the week as they often don't bother opening. The decline of the high street disproportionately hits the worse off in society.

 

[spen666]

I'm uncertain whether it's a cause/effect or just things change. When I was in my teens my Mum used to buy food at small local greengrocer shop, then on to butchers, etc. Then supermarkets started round where we lived small (compared to today) close to the local shops. Then the supermarkets got larger and moved further out of town. Things change.

Was that a time when:

1. Most women didn't work
2. Most homes did not have freezers and not all had fridgesRegular visits to shops were common and to some degree necessary.?
Supermarkets, freezers/ fridges and changes in working practices all play a part in that change, which was long before the internet came along.

Does the internet drive that change or just steer the direction of change? For me I gave up using high street as I had better things to do with my time and even before the internet where I needed something I'd work out what I wanted, call round shops to see if or which had it then go to those shops buy the item and then home. I had better things to do than spend ½ a day aimlessly wandering round shops when I didn't really need anything.

What I'm questioning is why people seem to want to save our High Streets when people don't want to use them any more.

I agree with the latter. What we don't want though is high streets full of empty and boarded up retails units. We need to be breathing life back into town centres by converting these empty retail places into housing or other leisure facilities and giving people a reason to be there

 

[spen666]

I suppose because they are the centre of communities and not everyone has a car to go to retail parks or out of town mega supermarkets.

Very few households these days do not have a vehicle other than by choice.

I think it's valuable to have local independent shops that you can walk to rather than the market dominated by half a dozen big names on retail parks and half a dozen big online retailers.

I don't disagree, but if people do not use them ( for whatever reason) they will die. At present people are choosing not to use them, so unless they adapt and prove what the public want they will die.
We are not going to turn the clock back to streets full of little shops, butchers, greengrocers etc. That's a lovely romantic image, but its long since gone

Unfortunately the way we shop has changed. People call on the way driving hime from work or do recreational shopping at weekends. They want easy, free parking. Unless councils start offering big incentives smaller retailers and town centres will continue to go downhill.

Why should councils use my hard earned money to subsidise a feckless business who is not providing what customers want or need?

The ones I visit that are busy are in poorer areas where people don't have transport to go elsewhere or in posh areas where the shops have turned into bars and restaurants. These are packed on Thursday to Sunday but the town is empty during the week as they don't bother opening. The decline of the high street disproportionately hits the worse off in society.

 

[Evil_Breakfast]

I agree with the latter. What we don't want though is high streets full of empty and boarded up retails units. We need to be breathing life back into town centres by converting these empty retail places into housing or other leisure facilities and giving people a reason to be there

Or worse; 'BetFred/PaddyPower' type betting shops.
Even worse than that; Merkur 'Adult Gaming Centres'.
Of which Taunton has.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...r-fined-over-cancer-patient-gambling-activity

 

[spen666]

Or worse; 'BetFred/PaddyPower' type betting shops.
Even worse than that; Merkur 'Adult Gaming Centres'.
Of which Taunton has.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...r-fined-over-cancer-patient-gambling-activity

You may not want them ( Not my cup of tea either), but vlearly as these are thriving on the high street plenty of other people must want them.
Quite ironic really that bookies are seemingly thriving and expanding on high street when online gambling is so readily available as well. The traditional retail is saying they can't compete with online, so how do Bookies make it work? ( Thinking outloud rather than expecting answers


PS An Adult Gaming Centre brings to mind something different to slot machines, but that probably says more about my mind

 

[matticus]

Clearly you do not understand my post - that's fine.

My post was directly related to what you said , but if it is too advanced for you to understand, then no problem at all.

You managed to avoid addressing what I posted about...

... AND the post that I was replying to!

It's as if you just dump the latest thought flitting through your fore-brain onto the nearest available outlet. Are you surprised if this isn't met with great acclaim?

 

[Evil_Breakfast]

You may not want them ( Not my cup of tea either), but vlearly as these are thriving on the high street plenty of other people must want them.
Quite ironic really that bookies are seemingly thriving and expanding on high street when online gambling is so readily available as well. The traditional retail is saying they can't compete with online, so how do Bookies make it work? ( Thinking outloud rather than expecting answers


PS An Adult Gaming Centre brings to mind something different to slot machines, but that probably says more about my mind

Simple.

These 'firms' preying on the vulnerable; ever hopeful, wasting money chasing the -impossible- big win.
The profits, I would imagine, negate the 'bricks and mortar' costs that are incurred.
Consequences be damned.
Again; the point of consequence rears it's head.

 

[All uphill]

Or worse; 'BetFred/PaddyPower' type betting shops.
Even worse than that; Merkur 'Adult Gaming Centres'.
Of which Taunton has.

https://www.theguardian.com/society...r-fined-over-cancer-patient-gambling-activity

Agreed.

I've been interested to watch most Taunton shopping streets die on their feet while the cafes in the green areas along the river thrive. Also the compact area of independent shops in St James Street seems to being doing OK.

My conclusion is that our towns need much more attractive, compact shopping areas rather than having the remaining retail dotted around a much too large area.

I wouldn't consider trying to buy a printer/bike/TV/trousers/cooker/socks in a bricks and mortar shop. Not enough choice.

 

[spen666]

You managed to avoid addressing what I posted about...

... AND the post that I was replying to!

It's as if you just dump the latest thought flitting through your fore-brain onto the nearest available outlet. Are you surprised if this isn't met with great acclaim?

No need to confirm that you do not understand my post and ironically given your last post, you do it on a thread I started - hilarious way to undermine yourself

i dealt with your post, perhaps not in the way you wanted me to, but I choose my posts not you.
Try dealing with the topic and stop trying to play the poster instead

 

[Evil_Breakfast]

Agreed.

I've been interested to watch most Taunton shopping streets die on their feet while the cafes in the green areas along the river thrive. Also the compact area of independent shops in St James Street seems to being doing OK.

My conclusion is that our towns need much more attractive, compact shopping areas rather than having the remaining retail dotted around a much too large area.

I wouldn't consider trying to buy a printer/bike/TV/trousers/cooker/socks in a bricks and mortar shop. Not enough choice.

One local; to another.
Couldn't agree more.

 

[Pblakeney]

Small shops on the high street were generally driven out of business by the supermarkets and chain stores. We were told that it was inevitable, and just "progress". I write that as the son of a small shop owner which was on the high street. I won't shed a tear for the chains or supermarkets.
High streets now are generally* nail bars, barbers, tattooists, vape shops, fast food and the odd chain; Primark for example. I have no reason to go.
The comparison with Europe is interesting. They are happy to wander down to the market daily (not working?) whereas the majority here just want everything as cheap as possible and at their convenience. The race to the bottom has consequences.

*There will always be some small areas with boutique (expensive) specialist shops which are interesting but not on the high street.

 

[Evil_Breakfast]

Small shops on the high street were generally driven out of business by the supermarkets and chain stores. We were told that it was inevitable, and just "progress". I write that as the son of a small shop owner which was on the high street. I won't shed a tear for the chains or supermarkets.
High streets now are generally* nail bars, barbers, tattooists, vape shops, fast food and the odd chain; Primark for example. I have no reason to go.
The comparison with Europe is interesting. They are happy to wander down to the market daily (not working?) whereas the majority here just want everything as cheap as possible and at their convenience. The race to the bottom has consequences.

*There will always be some small areas with boutique (expensive) specialist shops which are interesting but not on the high street.

Don't forget the plethora of Turf Accountants 2.0 either

 

[Pblakeney]

Don't forget the plethora of Turf Accountants 2.0 either

True. There are probably a few other examples too, none of which I have any desire to visit.

 

[BoldonLad]

Agreed.

I've been interested to watch most Taunton shopping streets die on their feet while the cafes in the green areas along the river thrive. Also the compact area of independent shops in St James Street seems to being doing OK.

My conclusion is that our towns need much more attractive, compact shopping areas rather than having the remaining retail dotted around a much too large area.

I wouldn't consider trying to buy a printer/bike/TV/trousers/cooker/socks in a bricks and mortar shop. Not enough choice.

I would agree, and, nor would I, but, isn't the important question what WOULD you (and enough others) buy in a "bricks and mortar shop", because, that is the only kind of business which is viable. It may be other factors (eg attractive surroundings, absence of louts, lower rates, etc etc) but, ultimately, lack of customers is the ultimate killer. IMHO.

 

[CXRAndy]

Turkish barbers, endless charity shops