Town Centre

[guest3670]

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 🤡

[singcobb]

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.

[Tabasco Kid]

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.

[BackOfTheNet]

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.

[Tabasco Kid]

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.

[DavCobb]

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.

[Manwork04]

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.

[guest3670]

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!

[Manwork04]

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

[guest3670]

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?

[Manwork04]

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 😂

[DavCobb]

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.

[guest3670]

Yep, they still got re elected though 😂

Recidivism!

[Manwork04]

Recidivism!

Pay peanuts……..

[guest3670]

Pay peanuts……..

And you get the same recidivists

[Deepcut Cobbler]

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...

[therealpattcobb]

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.

[DavCobb]

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.

[Peter Frost]

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 .

[therealpattcobb]

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.