Empty shops: Two more stores to close down in Weymouth town centre (From Dorset Echo)

Ah the good news from the 'Olympic Legacy' carries on. It is a pity that the organisers didn't have the local economy in mind when they organised it in the first place.

I am not surprised and there will be more casualties especially with the economy drive in public sector jobs in the local area.People just dont have the money to spend.

The Only thing that came out of the Olympics is the New Road making it quicker to get to Dorchester a town now looking to thrive. I cannot wait for the new complex to complete as It will be disable friendly unlike Weymouth Town Centre with it's sloping pavements and shops ,pubs & restaurants with Steps . RIP Weymouth Ruind by Seb Coe and his Bullsh*t Brigade

Take a good look at the people who walk around Weymouth.

In the main they are badly dressed and clearly have no
self respect.

So it is a wonder that any shops survive

"There will always be a few naysayers" Said Simon Williams. And when the next quarter's rent is due, there might be a few more.

The Olympic legacy continues to reveal itself, from the corruption at the heart of it all , the little clique that got rich off it, the civil servants jollies in it and the rest who have to sit in what's left and pay the bill.

SHOCK what shock? Dangerous junctions, a road system that is a joke, sea front ruined, olympic rise in house prices forcing locals out of the market, tourist told not to come here this summer so olympics has town just for their few, and you say shock that stores are closing. GET REAL ECHO.

The Council should give me an incentive to go to Weymouth and shop. Parking is at premium rate with many of the car parks limited to only 3 hours. I can shop all day in Dorchester for £2 with many more shops other than charity outlets. Perhaps the council should help businesses with reduced business rates. Encourage the owners of the freehold to consider reducing the rents. They loose rental with an empty shop for many months if not years.

Get a grip wrote:
Take a good look at the people who walk around Weymouth.

In the main they are badly dressed and clearly have no
self respect.

So it is a wonder that any shops survive

That comment made me laugh. I fear it's all too late. I'm actually thinking about moving away from this chavtastic, shoe phone wire, pub brawling/dealing umm nice esplanade place... maybe to Dorchester?

So Shirt Shack is closing down.... Good riddance, I say! Rude, surly, unhelpful and uninterested staff - they certainly had no wish to provide any customer service, or even a friendly word with a potential customer. I even contacted them with my complaint after one particularly frustrating visit. I got a completely "don't care" reply, and I never went in there again. Hopefully whoever replaces them will remember the spirit and benefit of good customer service... instead of blaming their poor results on everyone other than themselves...

The recession, the internet & competition from other cut-price retailers like George at Asda is taking its toll on shop closures in Weymouth as it is in every town in the country.

Much as some of you are keen to blame it on the Olympics, that's a red herring. Even the Echo reported last week that there were more businesses that did well out of the Olympics than didn't.

-Wingl- wrote:

Get a grip wrote:
Take a good look at the people who walk around Weymouth.

In the main they are badly dressed and clearly have no
self respect.

So it is a wonder that any shops survive

That comment made me laugh. I fear it's all too late. I'm actually thinking about moving away from this chavtastic, shoe phone wire, pub brawling/dealing umm nice esplanade place... maybe to Dorchester?

Where to? In to the anonymous suburban sprawl where you live on top of each other that is Poundbury or the rough council estates next to it?

Sad if brunches has closed as an ex-regular but recent changes ruined the former atmosphere. Also no wi-fi so failing to keep up with other outlets providing coffee. As for the two named never been to either so perhaps providing a service that wasn't wanted anyway. Not all trade failures are recession casualties some are just due to other firms doing it better!

John New wrote:
Sad if brunches has closed as an ex-regular but recent changes ruined the former atmosphere. Also no wi-fi so failing to keep up with other outlets providing coffee. As for the two named never been to either so perhaps providing a service that wasn't wanted anyway. Not all trade failures are recession casualties some are just due to other firms doing it better!

Didnt know that Brunches had gone. it is perhaps a sad reflection on society that people need Wi-fi in a cafe these days - perhaps they are happier to stick their nose in their phone or laptop rather than have a conversation with others. Perhaps thats why people are so ignorant.

I didn't know Brunches had closed either as it was open last time I chose to try it (a couple of weeks or so ago) but it was one of those businesses listed as having recently closed in the article above. (ECHO error?)

You might not like wi-fi ksmain but it is a fact of life these days and a factor influencing people's choice of cafe even if all they are doing is checking the latest football or cricket scores. The phrase is "adapt or die" because if you don't another firm will fill the void. Classic example Woolworth's as a company failed to change and died.- newcomer Wilkinson's simply did a better Woolie's and are thriving.

I worked in brunches until sept this year and it closed at the end of sept. A great shame and yes lack of olympic trade had an effect but the biggest problem was a new owner in July who didnt have a clue... they ruined the once busy cafe/bristro.

ksmain wrote:

-Wingl- wrote:

Get a grip wrote:
Take a good look at the people who walk around Weymouth.

In the main they are badly dressed and clearly have no
self respect.

So it is a wonder that any shops survive

That comment made me laugh. I fear it's all too late. I'm actually thinking about moving away from this chavtastic, shoe phone wire, pub brawling/dealing umm nice esplanade place... maybe to Dorchester?

Where to? In to the anonymous suburban sprawl where you live on top of each other that is Poundbury or the rough council estates next to it?

Give me the council estate.

really sad brunches has closed, it has been there as long as i can remember and i was a fairly regular visitor. Weymouth is a horrible place to shop it stinks of sewerage its full of horrible chav type scroats and drunks. Dorchester has such a nice friendly family atmosphere and great parking. No wonder so many people prefer it.

I don't have a bank account , I don't have a car, I am so **** myself, you slaves in a jar.

Are things really that much better in Dorcheser?
In lower South Street and the two Arcades alone there are 12 shops empty. Add in Antelope walk and High East/ West Street another 3 or 4.
If you really want to blow the numbers go to Poundbury where there are dozens of new builds empty.
In Dorchester Town there are significant numbers of charity shops so othing really is different but hey why let the facts get in the way of a good story!

Theres 100 more shops i could list in weymouth that will be closing within next year because they are still ripping people off even during the recession. Game ( AKA Gamestation ) will close, The colwell centre might aswell close because its a dead beat zone of bricks and walls, which could be turnt into a thriving spa, Gym , with sauna's and steam room , and therepy lounges. rather than rotting mobile kiosks that ripp people who dont know about phones off, trade had become aggressive, even walking in a mobile phone shop your harrassed in seconds trying to sell you ****. The council couldnt give a toss, i welcome more closeures in weymouth get out while you can is my message to shop keepers. Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons, have destroyed allot of buisness as so they should they offer fair prices on goods. The days of paying top prices for everything has long passed !

So those locals who said the Olympics would do little for Weymouth trade have been proved right? Will the £10,000 highlighted by Councillor Reed be any more than a symbolic gesture? And where were the chamber of trade as the council have gradually undermined the town centre by high parking charges and restrictions. Time we had a good clear out at the council and some notice taken of local opinion.

ksmain wrote:

-Wingl- wrote:

Get a grip wrote:
Take a good look at the people who walk around Weymouth.

In the main they are badly dressed and clearly have no
self respect.

So it is a wonder that any shops survive

That comment made me laugh. I fear it's all too late. I'm actually thinking about moving away from this chavtastic, shoe phone wire, pub brawling/dealing umm nice esplanade place... maybe to Dorchester?

Where to? In to the anonymous suburban sprawl where you live on top of each other that is Poundbury or the rough council estates next to it?

A nice community atmosphere up here actually.

leo210856 wrote:
Are things really that much better in Dorcheser?
In lower South Street and the two Arcades alone there are 12 shops empty. Add in Antelope walk and High East/ West Street another 3 or 4.
If you really want to blow the numbers go to Poundbury where there are dozens of new builds empty.
In Dorchester Town there are significant numbers of charity shops so othing really is different but hey why let the facts get in the way of a good story!

I don't think the closed shops up here at Poundbury have much to do with the recession. The idea that local shops would thrive in an area where there is nobody about during the day was flawed whatever the economic climate.

Town centres all over the country will see shops closing down because of one thing-the internet-shopping is easy,cheaper,more choice,good delivery,this is the way retail companys are thinking aswell they are investing huge sums because they know the market is there!! weymouth town is very poor and as a family we have not even bothered to walk round the awful choice of shops on offer,being ripped off for parking no thanks!!.internet shopping all the way for us!

due to various factors I will be doing most of my christmas shopping on line this year... ebay is a penny pinching haven!!!!! the majority of weymouth shops dont have the chance to compete because of all the costs. sorry

Shirt shack have huge rents and people wanting those sort of garments go online where it is much cheaper. Don't blame recession or Olympics , blame the type of business which is not viable in such a large premise in Weymouth.

Get a grip says 'give me the council estate' - does he mean Upper Victoria Park?

http://www.facebook.
com/wpldcard.org

High Street shopping is evolving and sadly the casualties will be the shops that are just glorified market stalls and as such open to competition from on line or every other market
The ones that will survive will be well run offering changing products geared towards niche shopping
This is particularly important for both Weymouth and Dorchester both of which will eventually improve but only when they accept that competing with large shopping centres is foolish and that quality is important along with price but most of all individuality and value are the keys to the future.

212 dorset wrote:
Shirt shack have huge rents and people wanting those sort of garments go online where it is much cheaper. Don't blame recession or Olympics , blame the type of business which is not viable in such a large premise in Weymouth.

If we want cheap T-Shirts we go to Primark in Yeovil. There is simply nowhere like that in Weymouth, and the car parking is far cheaper in Yeovil, so we are happy to make the trip.

bradley red 1 wrote:
Town centres all over the country will see shops closing down because of one thing-the internet-shopping is easy,cheaper,more choice,good delivery,this is the way retail companys are thinking aswell they are investing huge sums because they know the market is there!! weymouth town is very poor and as a family we have not even bothered to walk round the awful choice of shops on offer,being ripped off for parking no thanks!!.internet shopping all the way for us!

And this is why the high street is suffering!. Many people are now using the internet even where a good high Street alternative in available. For example, Cardiff is in the list of the top ten shopping locations in the UK, but British Home Stores has just announced the closure of their shop there along with the loss of almost 200 jobs. So you Bradley Red, are complaining about the state of the Weymouth shopping offer, whilst being one of the people seemingly responsible for its decline, by choosing to shop online.

Ironically, compared to the UK as a whole, the decline in Weymouth high street is remarkably slight, so don`t slag it off, get behind the traders who are left.

Simon N.

Tactical wrote:
Theres 100 more shops i could list in weymouth that will be closing within next year because they are still ripping people off even during the recession. Game ( AKA Gamestation ) will close, The colwell centre might aswell close because its a dead beat zone of bricks and walls, which could be turnt into a thriving spa, Gym , with sauna's and steam room , and therepy lounges. rather than rotting mobile kiosks that ripp people who dont know about phones off, trade had become aggressive, even walking in a mobile phone shop your harrassed in seconds trying to sell you ****. The council couldnt give a toss, i welcome more closeures in weymouth get out while you can is my message to shop keepers. Asda, Sainsburys, Morrisons, have destroyed allot of buisness as so they should they offer fair prices on goods. The days of paying top prices for everything has long passed !

Of you go then. Name the 100 that will be closing next year.

As for ripping people off. Why is that? Is it because they sell products with a margin to pay rents/rates/staff/el
ectric and so on?

High St stores can not compete with the internet, they can only try.

How can they when the likes of Amazon take advantage of loop holes in corporation tax and work out of a warehouse.

Internet shopping started the demise of the High St. This started shops to pull out.

Along came the recession which is putting the final nail in many coffins.

Not the Olympics.

I live in Dorchester, but prefer to shop in Weymouth (not that I'd want to live in Weymouth, but that's another story).

Dorchester has charity shops, coffee shops, mobile phone shops and not much else - and none of those appeal to me.

Admittedly, Weymouth isn't perfect, but for a 10 minute drive, it will suffice. I prefer Poole or Yeovil, Exeter or Southampton, but petrol costs and travel time are a factor.

Weymouth has Debenhams, much better than Goulds, a larger New Look, TK Maxx, Wilkinsons, and various other bits that are much better than Dorchester at the moment. We will just have to see what actually becomes of Dorchester in the future. The Brewery site looks promising, but more a 'cultural' or entertainment quarter than retail. As for Charles St - who knows?!?!

I agree with some of the comments above, in that you cannot just blame the Olympics, or even the recession. Online shopping is cheaper and easier for a lot of things, that has an effect on business. Also as others have said, are some of the businesses that are closing 'relevant' any more, and are they good at what they do? All these things make a difference.

Oh, and in reference to the cost of parking, the multi story in Weymouth does discount cards for anyone living in the DT postcode areas, and it's really not that expensive, anyway. I spend a good few hours there, usually with food and a pint as well as shopping, and pay less than £4. And no, I'm not the one driving if I have had a pint, before anyone thinks I drive under the influence!! :-)

I have to say that while I agree that the Olympic hype has done untold damage, there are good news stories too. I paid a first visit to the Dorset Burger Company (which operates as a tea room in the afternoon). The owner opened up just three weeks ago. The place was very busy, the food was pretty good and its very nicely decorated (the owner built the tables from reclaimed oak herself). So Shaun is probably right - if you offer something different you'll thrive. I have no connection with this company by the way.

Naughty us for wanting a better deal.. I bet theres more than a few customers of Mr Freemans who were told to get lost when they brought back their childrens broken roller skater trainers, and clothing that fell apart in the wash.. "I dont care if you have a receipt, or what your statutory rights are, the sign says 'NO REFUNDS'.." Safe journey Mike.....

there must be nearly 17 closed shops in the colwell centre alone, or does that count as 1 because they are all under one roof?
Have you ever tried to set anything up or to get a new business off the ground where you have to go through the council or one of their committees? It takes for ever or they give a quick response to tell you it's not going to happen.
Before the Olympics I made an enquiry as to whether I could set up a canopied area along the cargo area on the harbour with some kiosks selling food and a seating area. I was quickly informed "we do not want to do anything along the harbour until after the Olympics".
I recently approached Network Rail to enquire whether they would sell or rent me the scruffy piece of land off King Street, along the path, where the old railway lines are. I was hoping to try to put a street market or something along there. Anyway they are not leasing or selling land at the moment.
I also contacted W&PBC to ask for their permission to set up a mobile catering facility/old railway carriage along the Rodwell Trail to sell food to passers by. I explained that I would hope to expand this business by eventually running a land train along the trail between Abbotsbury Road and Ferrybridge with a terminus at each end and look into taking this attraction all the way to portland Victoria Square or via the sailing academy to Portland Castle.
I was informed that they will look into it but they are quite busy and so they might take six months to get back to me.
What really is the annoying part though when you come up with an idea, is when they say. Of course we couldn't just let you do this. We would have to put it out to tender.
Do they actually want anyone to try and do something or not?

i would quite happily see weymouth town centre get turnt into a public housing estate with all shops furnished into 1 and 2 bedroom flats. online shopping will eradicate all store pretty much apart from mcdonalds, or other food chains or specialty shops. bye bye Weymouth shops. Asda is the only true place i go for grocery as at the min , buying online they send you the out of date crap with 1-2 days life , where if you go Asda directly into shop can get same item with 15+ days life. night night weymouth shops. '' oh and the charity shops can all close as there more exspensive now than normal cloths shops'' they slowly been upping prices as the trend grew now there stupid, and thats not councils rent prices thats called trying to get a little extra out of the commen person.

Quick!! Put up some "Public Art", that will solve everything.

I have been comeing to Weymouth for years with my family for holidays and i must say that this year i was quite pleased with the new look seafront.I know that there are alot of issues about the lights being replaced by the new lazer system and i must say that i stayed to see the lazer show and was not that impressed ( I was trying to work out if i was in the seaside or star wars ) I think the new ring road system is very good makeing various parts of weymouth very easy to get to. All the closed down shops wasnt very nice to see but sadly as mentioned this seems to be everyware not just in weymouth.One thing i must say is that i cant understand why the council dont allow new business to trade in these empty shops and then take a percentage of the profits as there business rates,This allows them time to grow there business and also the council will be makeing some money from the empty shops. The parking charges are very high in weymouth but we used to park in the train station long stay and this wasnt to bad. I would love to see Weymouth return to being a busy seaside town full of tourists like in the old days.

cecilbdoomil wrote:
The Olympic legacy continues to reveal itself, from the corruption at the heart of it all , the little clique that got rich off it, the civil servants jollies in it and the rest who have to sit in what's left and pay the bill.

My God you really do have a problem. Perhaps I should be a little more sympathetic.

There is whole waterfront location just waiting to be developed at the moment - why isn't this being considered?

By "waterfront" I mean along the entire length of Commercial Road and the Swannery car park. Also in the area of the gasworks.

If these sites were opened up for development e.g. shops, leisure and accommodation, it would give a massive boost to our town centre.

The older shopping areas of St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street could morph into a specialised and quirky area, similar to The Lanes in Brighton.

Just where is the vision from our elected representatives?

westendcat wrote:
Get a grip says 'give me the council estate' - does he mean Upper Victoria Park?

I was talking about Lower Victoria Park populated by good honest people.

Not the crack den that is Poundbury or Upper Victoria Park.

Caption Sensible wrote:
There is whole waterfront location just waiting to be developed at the moment - why isn't this being considered?

By "waterfront" I mean along the entire length of Commercial Road and the Swannery car park. Also in the area of the gasworks.

If these sites were opened up for development e.g. shops, leisure and accommodation, it would give a massive boost to our town centre.

The older shopping areas of St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street could morph into a specialised and quirky area, similar to The Lanes in Brighton.

Just where is the vision from our elected representatives?

The elected representatives have NO vision, thats the problem. All they have been able to see for the last few years is the £££ of the Olympics. Now, as many of us predicted, the Olympics brought no benefit to the town, the elected representatives are left scratching their a*ses and wondering what to do as the town falls apart before their eyes. The elected representatives have LET THE TOWN DOWN. They ignored the concerns of the people they were elected to represent in favour of sucking up to "Lord" Coe and bowing to his demands. Now the price is being paid.
They have let the town down, and should face the consequences.
Bunch of self serving w***ers.

The demise of these shops and others to follow is down to everything mentioned above.

However, a lot of the blame can be put on every one of us. We all want to get the cheapest possible bargains and are not prepared to value customer service or other benefits that come from shopping in a physical store. I have recently been made redundant and have taken on a new post in retail. I find it amazing that people will come into a shop and simply either view the products and go home to order on-line or will expect the shop to discount their goods to the on-line prices with no regard for the wages or other costs of the shop itself. The more closures on the high street the fewer people in work earning a wage to pay gor anything. We all moan about being ripped off, or the closure of our town centres but we are all responsible for it by our actions and attitudes.

The last time I was in Weymuff it was full of the most awful people, scruffy, pot-bellied, tattooed, unshaven, fags hanging out of mouths, half drunk, jabbering into cellphones, stuffing down chips . . . the men were even worse. To any of these scrotes to spend any money you would need 50p shops. Where do they come from? They can't all be didecoys or brummies. As for the retailers, they are always moaning like the hoteliers. They should look at themselves and start to provide what people want instead of the crap they serve up. The country is being led by the nose by people of the ilk of that clown from the BBC and the bishops and politicians with unhygienic secrets.

EtaoinShrdlu wrote:
The last time I was in Weymuff it was full of the most awful people, scruffy, pot-bellied, tattooed, unshaven, fags hanging out of mouths, half drunk, jabbering into cellphones, stuffing down chips . . . the men were even worse. To any of these scrotes to spend any money you would need 50p shops. Where do they come from? They can't all be didecoys or brummies. As for the retailers, they are always moaning like the hoteliers. They should look at themselves and start to provide what people want instead of the crap they serve up. The country is being led by the nose by people of the ilk of that clown from the BBC and the bishops and politicians with unhygienic secrets.

I guess that was the day of the EDL march then.

EtaoinShrdlu wrote:
The last time I was in Weymuff it was full of the most awful people, scruffy, pot-bellied, tattooed, unshaven, fags hanging out of mouths, half drunk, jabbering into cellphones, stuffing down chips . . . the men were even worse. To any of these scrotes to spend any money you would need 50p shops. Where do they come from? They can't all be didecoys or brummies. As for the retailers, they are always moaning like the hoteliers. They should look at themselves and start to provide what people want instead of the crap they serve up. The country is being led by the nose by people of the ilk of that clown from the BBC and the bishops and politicians with unhygienic secrets.

Hahaha :-)

Caption Sensible wrote:
There is whole waterfront location just waiting to be developed at the moment - why isn't this being considered?

By "waterfront" I mean along the entire length of Commercial Road and the Swannery car park. Also in the area of the gasworks.

If these sites were opened up for development e.g. shops, leisure and accommodation, it would give a massive boost to our town centre.

The older shopping areas of St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street could morph into a specialised and quirky area, similar to The Lanes in Brighton.

Just where is the vision from our elected representatives?

These ideas have been presented more than once and are obvious to anyone with imagination and an idea of what Weymouth could be like. Unfortunately there are too many people in Weymouth, including councillors, who lack those assets and seem to think they are living in some charming, idyll on the seaside usually in 1953. Until people are exposed to new ideas and can see what can be done to improve both the town and their lives you are wasting your typing skills.

Lets face it. We sold our souls to the devil! We traded families that had been here for years traditionally following in the foootsteps of their parents and grandparents. But it was a gamble that was taken in reasonable faith by the elected members who we put there by voting for them or not voting at all. I think we have to accept that the challenge now is to re engage those families with offers and events that will bring them back to the town. If you all want real change then lets vote NEW and YOUNG people on to our council who would shape the future and not dwell on the past. Its not too late to fix it but will need clear leadership and streamline council activity that we just dont have. Out with the old and in with the new!

Caption Sensible wrote:
There is whole waterfront location just waiting to be developed at the moment - why isn't this being considered?

By "waterfront" I mean along the entire length of Commercial Road and the Swannery car park. Also in the area of the gasworks.

If these sites were opened up for development e.g. shops, leisure and accommodation, it would give a massive boost to our town centre.

The older shopping areas of St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street could morph into a specialised and quirky area, similar to The Lanes in Brighton.

Just where is the vision from our elected representatives?

The area in the gas works is contaminated land and therefore inst likely to be developed

Hedgehogspring wrote:

Caption Sensible wrote:
There is whole waterfront location just waiting to be developed at the moment - why isn't this being considered?

By "waterfront" I mean along the entire length of Commercial Road and the Swannery car park. Also in the area of the gasworks.

If these sites were opened up for development e.g. shops, leisure and accommodation, it would give a massive boost to our town centre.

The older shopping areas of St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street could morph into a specialised and quirky area, similar to The Lanes in Brighton.

Just where is the vision from our elected representatives?

The elected representatives have NO vision, thats the problem. All they have been able to see for the last few years is the £££ of the Olympics. Now, as many of us predicted, the Olympics brought no benefit to the town, the elected representatives are left scratching their a*ses and wondering what to do as the town falls apart before their eyes. The elected representatives have LET THE TOWN DOWN. They ignored the concerns of the people they were elected to represent in favour of sucking up to "Lord" Coe and bowing to his demands. Now the price is being paid.
They have let the town down, and should face the consequences.
Bunch of self serving w***ers.

maybe it would help if people voted for the people best suited for the job. rather than the representative from a political party regardless of whether they would do the job or not,The same with MPs, how many people voted for Richard Drax just because hes conservative or Jim knight because hes Labour. People vote based on political loyalties rather then voting for the most appropriate candidate. In other words people in general do not vote for people with vision they vote for the candidate put forward by their party, the sad reality of UK politics

lifecoach wrote:
Lets face it. We sold our souls to the devil! We traded families that had been here for years traditionally following in the foootsteps of their parents and grandparents. But it was a gamble that was taken in reasonable faith by the elected members who we put there by voting for them or not voting at all. I think we have to accept that the challenge now is to re engage those families with offers and events that will bring them back to the town. If you all want real change then lets vote NEW and YOUNG people on to our council who would shape the future and not dwell on the past. Its not too late to fix it but will need clear leadership and streamline council activity that we just dont have. Out with the old and in with the new!

I totally agree.its a real shame that most of they electorate are stuck with their archaic party loyalties, therefore real change simple will not happen.

Green.S wrote:

Caption Sensible wrote:
There is whole waterfront location just waiting to be developed at the moment - why isn't this being considered?

By "waterfront" I mean along the entire length of Commercial Road and the Swannery car park. Also in the area of the gasworks.

If these sites were opened up for development e.g. shops, leisure and accommodation, it would give a massive boost to our town centre.

The older shopping areas of St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street could morph into a specialised and quirky area, similar to The Lanes in Brighton.

Just where is the vision from our elected representatives?

The area in the gas works is contaminated land and therefore inst likely to be developed

It can be cleaned.

monkeydog wrote:

Green.S wrote:

Caption Sensible wrote:
There is whole waterfront location just waiting to be developed at the moment - why isn't this being considered?

By "waterfront" I mean along the entire length of Commercial Road and the Swannery car park. Also in the area of the gasworks.

If these sites were opened up for development e.g. shops, leisure and accommodation, it would give a massive boost to our town centre.

The older shopping areas of St. Mary Street and St. Thomas Street could morph into a specialised and quirky area, similar to The Lanes in Brighton.

Just where is the vision from our elected representatives?

The area in the gas works is contaminated land and therefore inst likely to be developed

It can be cleaned.

and who would pay for that