The Hotel End

General Category => General Chat => Topic started by: singcobb on September 01, 2016, 13:07:50 pm



Title: Town Centre
Post by: singcobb on September 01, 2016, 13:07:50 pm
If the wänkers at the council spent as much time actually trying to do something to help the town centre as they do on putting spin on a total load of böllocks they might achieve something.

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/special-report-northampton-town-centre-showing-signs-of-recovery-with-77-empty-shops-1-7554835


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: The CrowMan on September 03, 2016, 10:40:18 am
They are mere amateurs at putting a spin on a total load of böllocks when reading some of our stuff on here  :P



Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: pattcobb on September 07, 2016, 17:05:19 pm
What does everyone think of the proposals for the Greyfriars site?
Possibly another cinema?
Was only thinking the other day how much life there would be if NTFC or Saints played closer to the town centre?
On a larger scale St James Park and the Millenium Stadium are slap bang in the centre of their respective cities.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: The 12th Marquis of Sixfields on September 07, 2016, 20:16:00 pm
A working, fit for purpose bus station would have been nice. One with covered access to the main shopping precinct in town.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: singcobb on September 09, 2016, 09:36:06 am
A working, fit for purpose bus station would have been nice. One with covered access to the main shopping precinct in town.

What? Next you'll be asking for a fish market.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: pattcobb on September 22, 2016, 21:35:51 pm
What? Next you'll be asking for a fish market.
Drove from Gladstone Road opposite Oliver Adams to Cheyne Walk Hospital car park today for work (and a little home job!) with a guy from Yardley Gobion who hadn't been in Northampton "for years"
Whilst Gladstone Road is rough around the edges I think most town's have areas like this. What we commented on most was how run down the area around The Mounts, St Michaels Rd and Abington Square were. Closed down factories, wasteland created by Monkeytosh's seeming fetish for pulling buildings down and terrible grotty shops with over gaudy windows.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Deepcut Cobbler on November 30, 2018, 23:21:54 pm
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x29bqmh
A sad video for those who remember some of this...


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: guest3114 on January 30, 2019, 11:21:08 am
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x29bqmh
A sad video for those who remember some of this...
Wow DC, just watched this. My Pap was a stagehand at the New Theatre for donkeys years. First time I have seen a real photo of it, only seen paintings before. My old dad said it was a disgrace they knocked it down and hated Primark.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: St Edmundsbury Cobbler on January 31, 2019, 03:39:51 am
Has anything happened on thv Greyfriers site or is it East Stand mark 2


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Deepcut Cobbler on September 16, 2019, 09:37:29 am
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/people/it-s-not-all-high-street-doom-and-gloom-as-our-northampton-shop-survey-shows-a-fall-in-to-let-signs-1-9071023

Good news or just smoke and mirrors...?


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Deepcut Cobbler on October 21, 2020, 13:30:27 pm
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/buildings-are-sorely-missed-northampton-residents-3009845
Such a shame... :(


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: singcobb on January 27, 2022, 11:01:59 am
The council are lucky they have Covid to blame for this. The truth is that the town centre is a fúcking shíthole and they are doing nothing about it.
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/business/nearly-a-quarter-of-northampton-town-centre-shops-are-emptyand-experts-warn-things-could-get-even-worse-3543884


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: guest49 on January 27, 2022, 12:59:19 pm
The council are lucky they have Covid to blame for this. The truth is that the town centre is a fúcking shíthole and they are doing nothing about it.
https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/business/nearly-a-quarter-of-northampton-town-centre-shops-are-emptyand-experts-warn-things-could-get-even-worse-3543884

With WFH and hybrid working (accelerated years by covid) most town centre's are totally screwed, many already were.
Delivery services are booming and using grotty changing rooms, with stores not carrying the right shirt size and a snotty store assistant is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Many grocery stores will be app based, cashless and replenished over night, the world is moving on.
Trips out will be for leisure purposes to play mini golf before a 'fast casual' restaurant meal, or £3.50 coffee. It's no coincidence that one of the busiest outlets in the entire town centre must be Nando's.

TBH I am not sure anyone could do anything to regenerate our town centre. 7 day free parking, with a £10 voucher to spend wouldn't even save it!
 


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Deepcut Cobbler on March 13, 2024, 14:35:02 pm
The last man standing: Key cutter, 57, is town's last surviving market trader after a lack of shopp… https://mol.im/a/13191637 via https://dailym.ai/android


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: DavCobb on March 13, 2024, 16:43:54 pm
The last man standing: Key cutter, 57, is town's last surviving market trader after a lack of shopp… https://mol.im/a/13191637 via https://dailym.ai/android

That's awful and didn't realise it was that bad. Shame on the council and wouldn't be at all surprised if the new area is a white elephant.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Deepcut Cobbler on March 13, 2024, 17:12:04 pm
That's awful and didn't realise it was that bad. Shame on the council and wouldn't be at all surprised if the new area is a white elephant.

I noticed that St Neots are doing something similar with their market square, but their surrounding town areas  didn't look anything like the desolation of the Northampton town centre.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: DavCobb on March 13, 2024, 17:35:57 pm
I noticed that St Neots are doing something similar with their market square, but their surrounding town areas  didn't look anything like the desolation of the Northampton town centre.

It's hard to judge exactly where we sit in terms of other typical town centres. Ours has felt as though it has been declining for the past 20-30+ years, I guess in line with the emergence of retail parks.
Certainly the ones I have visited seem to have the same run down and neglected vibes. Rugby doesn't feel great and visited Coventry recently which was a dive.
I love the more vibrant feeling places like Leeds (appreciate that is a big student city) and not sure how you come back with somewhere like Northampton.
I just can't imagine it as a 'destination' again, unless someone wants to visit somewhere like Nando's or Primark, or risk getting stabbed with some weekend drinking.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Manwork04 on March 13, 2024, 18:09:08 pm
It's hard to judge exactly where we sit in terms of other typical town centres. Ours has felt as though it has been declining for the past 20-30+ years, I guess in line with the emergence of retail parks.
Certainly the ones I have visited seem to have the same run down and neglected vibes. Rugby doesn't feel great and visited Coventry recently which was a dive.
I love the more vibrant feeling places like Leeds (appreciate that is a big student city) and not sure how you come back with somewhere like Northampton.
I just can't imagine it as a 'destination' again, unless someone wants to visit somewhere like Nando's or Primark, or risk getting stabbed with some weekend drinking.
It’s the decline of town centres across the country I’m afraid, and the impact of the interweb of shopping habits.
As for the council they are amateurs stealing a living.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: DavCobb on March 13, 2024, 18:18:39 pm
Maybe time to maintain the likes of the Guildhall, St Giles Street and the Derngate and level the rest of it for housing. Could be the new ‘Hunsbury’.
The likes of the shopping centre and Abington St are a waste of time.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: singcobb on March 13, 2024, 18:19:28 pm
It's hard to judge exactly where we sit in terms of other typical town centres. Ours has felt as though it has been declining for the past 20-30+ years, I guess in line with the emergence of retail parks.
Certainly the ones I have visited seem to have the same run down and neglected vibes. Rugby doesn't feel great and visited Coventry recently which was a dive.
I love the more vibrant feeling places like Leeds (appreciate that is a big student city) and not sure how you come back with somewhere like Northampton.
I just can't imagine it as a 'destination' again, unless someone wants to visit somewhere like Nando's or Primark, or risk getting stabbed with some weekend drinking.

Mkt Harborough is not bad, well looked after and clean, parking is OK, some good pubs.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Barty on March 13, 2024, 18:20:16 pm
It’s the decline of town centres across the country I’m afraid, and the impact of the interweb of shopping habits.
As for the council they are amateurs stealing a living.
They’re tories, do you expect anything different? Look at the mess they made of Northamptonshire county council 🤡


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: singcobb on March 13, 2024, 18:21:13 pm
Maybe time to maintain the likes of the Guildhall, St Giles Street and the Derngate and level the rest of it for housing. Could be the new ‘Hunsbury’.
The likes of the shopping centre and Abington St are a waste of time.

I can't see anything about the town at the moment would attract any commercial ventures to invest.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Tabasco Kid on March 13, 2024, 18:32:11 pm
That's awful and didn't realise it was that bad. Shame on the council and wouldn't be at all surprised if the new area is a white elephant.
I took a wander past the market today, and the new permanent stall/sheds are in place. There only appear to be about a dozen available though. Perhaps the intention was to run the number down all along? The new paving looks quite nice though, it will be interesting to see what its like upon completion.
And when its done, along with the current Abington Street/Fish Street refurbs, no more St Crispins street fairs. As those massive rides were what ballsed up the block paving in the first place.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: BackOfTheNet on March 13, 2024, 19:08:40 pm
I maintain the council want rid of all the traditional traders so when their swanky new market is finished they can let the stalls to boutique style traders.

There's no way that job should take 18 months to complete. It's like the council have shunted them right out of the way for as long as possible to make sure they pop.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Tabasco Kid on March 13, 2024, 19:30:22 pm
I maintain the council want rid of all the traditional traders so when their swanky new market is finished they can let the stalls to boutique style traders.

There's no way that job should take 18 months to complete. It's like the council have shunted them right out of the way for as long as possible to make sure they pop.
There was a lot of ground work to complete first though. Judging by the size of the ladders used, some of the new conduits and service wells are several meters deep.
My biggest concern, is that the swanky new paving and flag stones, on the market and Abington Street, are going to have to be driven over by trucks and cranes, when the rebuild of the old Peacock Place/Market Walk commences. And dont forget the scaffolders. All scaffs will damage things. Guaranteed.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: DavCobb on March 13, 2024, 20:44:02 pm
Whatever they are doing to the old market can anyone genuinely see it attracting a raft of new traders, boutique or otherwise?
If they do it’ll be short lived as they won’t get the footfall to cover the rents.
The department stores all closing was the final nail.
It may do well on themed events, Christmas markets etc but no way it’ll sustain several markets a week.

A centre of leisure could bring people in but would take huge investment. Cinema, ice skating, restaurants, bars, student accommodation etc. There just isn’t the stores to fill a town anymore.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Manwork04 on March 14, 2024, 13:27:02 pm
They’re tories, do you expect anything different? Look at the mess they made of Northamptonshire county council 🤡
You are in for a hell of a shock if you think the town center is suddenly going to resemble Cannes under a Labour council.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Barty on March 14, 2024, 17:39:30 pm
You are in for a hell of a shock if you think the town center is suddenly going to resemble Cannes under a Labour council.
Where is this “center” that you type about? And none of us know what a new council might do to improve the mess it’s currently in, FACT!


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Manwork04 on March 15, 2024, 13:10:17 pm
Where is this “center” that you type about? And none of us know what a new council might do to improve the mess it’s currently in, FACT!
It’s all about budget, nothing will change but it will become even more incompetent under a Labour council.
Here’s an example. https://www.croydonconservatives.com/news/failing-labour-council-branded-unlawful-independent-auditors


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Barty on March 15, 2024, 16:15:02 pm
It’s all about budget, nothing will change but it will become even more incompetent under a Labour council.
Here’s an example. https://www.croydonconservatives.com/news/failing-labour-council-branded-unlawful-independent-auditors
Cast your mind back a few years when tory Northamptonshire County Council went bust and central government appointed commissioners to run the county, remember that?


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Manwork04 on March 16, 2024, 09:47:43 am
Cast your mind back a few years when tory Northamptonshire County Council went bust and central government appointed commissioners to run the county, remember that?
Yep, they still got re elected though 😂


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: DavCobb on March 16, 2024, 10:28:03 am
Cast your mind back a few years when tory Northamptonshire County Council went bust and central government appointed commissioners to run the county, remember that?

The council are always cutting...then wasting money on something else. My bro is just about to finish on voluntary redundo after 40 years. Worked out very nicely for him.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Barty on March 16, 2024, 11:09:11 am
Yep, they still got re elected though 😂
Recidivism!


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Manwork04 on March 16, 2024, 17:43:50 pm
Recidivism!
Pay peanuts……..


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Barty on March 16, 2024, 18:02:58 pm
Pay peanuts……..
And you get the same recidivists


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Deepcut Cobbler on March 16, 2024, 23:03:37 pm
https://www.google.co.uk/search?sca_esv=e0298e710c2fa989&sxsrf=ACQVn0_J0oS_u7KDd4qMTx4WLKX6XWw9rQ:1710629808159&q=Northampton+1963&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=ivnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiOxbrQ8PmEAxXQWkEAHWZpDe0Q0pQJegQIBxAB&biw=346&bih=679&dpr=3.13#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:bfe1fc91,vid:C1Nz3oNWNCE,st:0

Some very fond memories of a time past...


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: therealpattcobb on March 22, 2024, 11:34:35 am
Whatever they are doing to the old market can anyone genuinely see it attracting a raft of new traders, boutique or otherwise?
If they do it’ll be short lived as they won’t get the footfall to cover the rents.
The department stores all closing was the final nail.
It may do well on themed events, Christmas markets etc but no way it’ll sustain several markets a week.

A centre of leisure could bring people in but would take huge investment. Cinema, ice skating, restaurants, bars, student accommodation etc. There just isn’t the stores to fill a town anymore.

The same architects are doing the market square that did this in Coventry. Must say it's fantastic, so hoping the Square will be similar.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: DavCobb on March 22, 2024, 11:57:02 am
The same architects are doing the market square that did this in Coventry. Must say it's fantastic, so hoping the Square will be similar.

I think I was there the other weekend on a trip to a cat cafe.
I must admit I was on team Manny and thought the place was a dump. However, this part had a nice feel and assuming it is where there was a big Primarni at the end?
Also tried the Indian street food place which was really good. I'd also say the engineering facilities at the Uni are outstanding and the open day there was really impressive.

There can't be many centres left that don't feel a tad unsavoury and run down in certain places.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Peter Frost on March 22, 2024, 12:32:58 pm
The demise of town centres is sad but most of us need to take some collective responsibility- we buy more and more online, we prefer out of town shopping complexes and we eat too much s***e food. Northampton is probably no worse (or better) than a multitude of towns of a similar size .


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: therealpattcobb on March 22, 2024, 12:38:53 pm
I think I was there the other weekend on a trip to a cat cafe.
I must admit I was on team Manny and thought the place was a dump. However, this part had a nice feel and assuming it is where there was a big Primarni at the end?
Also tried the Indian street food place which was really good. I'd also say the engineering facilities at the Uni are outstanding and the open day there was really impressive.

There can't be many centres left that don't feel a tad unsavoury and run down in certain places.

Down from that square towards the Lower Precinct, really is a nice job so fingers crossed for Northampton market square.

By the way where that cat cafe is now and  the whole lot of the seventies build arcades are coming down too, to be replaced with city Centre South development - see pic

One thing about Coventry is that there are not so many empty shops than in most cities.
Indeed as in every town when Debenhams closed it left a huge vacant store, well in Coventry the whole of it has been re-let, which is some achievement on the present day I think.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: DavCobb on March 22, 2024, 13:02:25 pm
"I'll tell you now and I'll tell you firmly I don't never want to go to Burnley"


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Tabasco Kid on March 22, 2024, 16:29:50 pm
Down from that square towards the Lower Precinct, really is a nice job so fingers crossed for Northampton market square.

By the way where that cat cafe is now and  the whole lot of the seventies build arcades are coming down too, to be replaced with city Centre South development - see pic

One thing about Coventry is that there are not so many empty shops than in most cities.
Indeed as in every town when Debenhams closed it left a huge vacant store, well in Coventry the whole of it has been re-let, which is some achievement on the present day I think.

I have kept an eye on the market square refurb, and it is starting to look very good. With regards to Debenhams, Nptons is being completely rebuilt, along with BHS and Marks & Sparks, so things are looking up. Just need Bridge Street sorting out now.
I had to google "cat cafe" as I had never heard of one before, and I cannot think of a worse experience, of eating whilst being surrounded by the furry little two faced bastards.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Bingers on March 22, 2024, 19:42:51 pm
The demise of town centres is sad but most of us need to take some collective responsibility- we buy more and more online, we prefer out of town shopping complexes and we eat too much s***e food.

Here is a genuine question for you all, what role should town centres of the future have? They are not going to be like the shopping destinations of old, so what should all the empty buildings become?

I have no real answers, but would like to hear bright ideas.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Manwork04 on March 22, 2024, 20:45:35 pm
Here is a genuine question for you all, what role should town centres of the future have? They are not going to be like the shopping destinations of old, so what should all the empty buildings become?

I have no real answers, but would like to hear bright ideas.
The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.
Samsung have one of these near Kings Cross.


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Barty on March 22, 2024, 20:53:21 pm
The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.
Samsung have one of these near Kings Cross.
Commonly known as “showrooms”


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Tabasco Kid on March 22, 2024, 21:30:06 pm
Commonly known as “showrooms”
One of my old sites, has become one of these "showrooms" for a range of Italian kitchens and bathrooms. Now I dont expect them to have things in stock, but placing restrictions by appointment only viewing, and a dress code is pushing it a bit. The "meet n greet" muppet wears a tuxedo FFS. And takes great delight in turning people away. We are talking about kitchen units.  ;D ;D


Title: Re: Town Centre
Post by: Bingers on March 22, 2024, 22:12:33 pm
The trend is to have a shop that you can’t buy from and has no stock, but you can try on or test their products and talk to experts, then go and order online.


That sounds like the opposite to Argos.