Jeremy Corbyn (Vol. 3)

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Earthdweller

13,563 posts

126 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Magic Grandpa’s latest idea is to “seize” empty shops in the high street so the local council can open them again

Seems a great idea ?

smile

biggbn

23,386 posts

220 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Earthdweller said:
Magic Grandpa’s latest idea is to “seize” empty shops in the high street so the local council can open them again

Seems a great idea ?

smile
Why don't the councils abolish town centre parking fees and minimise rates so businesses stand a chance to prosper. I'm all for empty shops being let out at affordable rates to small businesses and members of the local community but this kind of initiative will only work if shopping in town centres becomes as cost effective as the big satellite shopping centres.

Vaud

50,526 posts

155 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
biggbn said:
Why don't the councils abolish town centre parking fees and minimise rates so businesses stand a chance to prosper. I'm all for empty shops being let out at affordable rates to small businesses and members of the local community but this kind of initiative will only work if shopping in town centres becomes as cost effective as the big satellite shopping centres.
Why don't the govt give more discretion on business rates to local govt?

biggbn

23,386 posts

220 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Vaud said:
biggbn said:
Why don't the councils abolish town centre parking fees and minimise rates so businesses stand a chance to prosper. I'm all for empty shops being let out at affordable rates to small businesses and members of the local community but this kind of initiative will only work if shopping in town centres becomes as cost effective as the big satellite shopping centres.
Why don't the govt give more discretion on business rates to local govt?
Agree 100%, local businesses need encouragement if we are ever going to rebuild pride in our communities

Pan Pan Pan

9,919 posts

111 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Have to agree that when those in charge start making access to town centres difficult, expensive, and generally unpleasant, they can hardly be surprised when the town centres go downhill, and shops start closing.
Anti drink driving measures, whilst entirely necessary were the kiss of death to many out of the way country pubs and resulted in the numerous closures of otherwise viable pubs. But it seems the knock on effects of what some of those in authority impose, often escapes those who make the rules.

.:ian:.

1,936 posts

203 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Earthdweller said:
Magic Grandpa’s latest idea is to “seize” empty shops in the high street so the local council can open them again

Seems a great idea ?

smile
Every high street needs a Beryozka!

Nickgnome

8,277 posts

89 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Pan Pan Pan said:
Have to agree that when those in charge start making access to town centres difficult, expensive, and generally unpleasant, they can hardly be surprised when the town centres go downhill, and shops start closing.
Anti drink driving measures, whilst entirely necessary were the kiss of death to many out of the way country pubs and resulted in the numerous closures of otherwise viable pubs. But it seems the knock on effects of what some of those in authority impose, often escapes those who make the rules.
Town centres will need to change from shopping to entertainment plus some specialist retail. The good council chief execs have been doing this for quite a few years now but it’s take time when councils have had their grants cut and needed to raise cash in other ways.

As far as county pubs go the well managed ones developed their food offering to sit alongside the pure pub bit.
We have a plethora of excellent pubs in the Southdowns near us which are extremely successful and busy during the week as well as weekends.

Nickgnome

8,277 posts

89 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
biggbn said:
Vaud said:
biggbn said:
Why don't the councils abolish town centre parking fees and minimise rates so businesses stand a chance to prosper. I'm all for empty shops being let out at affordable rates to small businesses and members of the local community but this kind of initiative will only work if shopping in town centres becomes as cost effective as the big satellite shopping centres.
Why don't the govt give more discretion on business rates to local govt?
Agree 100%, local businesses need encouragement if we are ever going to rebuild pride in our communities
In the states, pride comes from the people forming community groups to undertake certain ‘council’ functions. Do you ever think you average UK resident is ever going to get involved. We have become a nation of the entitled. It’s surely unreasonable for the councils do do it all.

Gecko1978

9,717 posts

157 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
biggbn said:
Vaud said:
biggbn said:
Why don't the councils abolish town centre parking fees and minimise rates so businesses stand a chance to prosper. I'm all for empty shops being let out at affordable rates to small businesses and members of the local community but this kind of initiative will only work if shopping in town centres becomes as cost effective as the big satellite shopping centres.
Why don't the govt give more discretion on business rates to local govt?
Agree 100%, local businesses need encouragement if we are ever going to rebuild pride in our communities
high st shops close because we use big out of town places and Amazon. Opening more might as well just be like king kanute sitting on the beach commanding the tide to go back. Totally stupid idea

biggbn

23,386 posts

220 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
biggbn said:
Vaud said:
biggbn said:
Why don't the councils abolish town centre parking fees and minimise rates so businesses stand a chance to prosper. I'm all for empty shops being let out at affordable rates to small businesses and members of the local community but this kind of initiative will only work if shopping in town centres becomes as cost effective as the big satellite shopping centres.
Why don't the govt give more discretion on business rates to local govt?
Agree 100%, local businesses need encouragement if we are ever going to rebuild pride in our communities
high st shops close because we use big out of town places and Amazon. Opening more might as well just be like king kanute sitting on the beach commanding the tide to go back. Totally stupid idea
I think we are making similar points. Why do we use big out of town places and Amazon? Convenience. Make city centres more convenient. Seems simple?

Pan Pan Pan

9,919 posts

111 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Nickgnome said:
Pan Pan Pan said:
Have to agree that when those in charge start making access to town centres difficult, expensive, and generally unpleasant, they can hardly be surprised when the town centres go downhill, and shops start closing.
Anti drink driving measures, whilst entirely necessary were the kiss of death to many out of the way country pubs and resulted in the numerous closures of otherwise viable pubs. But it seems the knock on effects of what some of those in authority impose, often escapes those who make the rules.
Town centres will need to change from shopping to entertainment plus some specialist retail. The good council chief execs have been doing this for quite a few years now but it’s take time when councils have had their grants cut and needed to raise cash in other ways.

As far as county pubs go the well managed ones developed their food offering to sit alongside the pure pub bit.
We have a plethora of excellent pubs in the Southdowns near us which are extremely successful and busy during the week as well as weekends.
In Essex there are quite a large number of pubs with plywood shutters on the doors and windows, or others with signs claiming closed until further notice. It cannot be `just' an access problem, because some closed down pubs have been converted to Mcdonalds, or even Sainsbury`s outlets, but talking to a publican friend in an out of the way, but nevertheless excellent pub, he did state that his customer numbers went way down following increased anti drink drive measures being introduced.

Vaud

50,526 posts

155 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
high st shops close because we use big out of town places and Amazon. Opening more might as well just be like king kanute sitting on the beach commanding the tide to go back. Totally stupid idea
I know a lot about the buying patterns, but I don't think the rate should be fully set centrally.
I think they should be freed up a little bit - after all they know their town.

alfie2244

11,292 posts

188 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all

Nickgnome

8,277 posts

89 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Pan Pan Pan said:
In Essex there are quite a large number of pubs with plywood shutters on the doors and windows, or others with signs claiming closed until further notice. It cannot be `just' an access problem, because some closed down pubs have been converted to Mcdonalds, or even Sainsbury`s outlets, but talking to a publican friend in an out of the way, but nevertheless excellent pub, he did state that his customer numbers went way down following increased anti drink drive measures being introduced.
I find that very worrying that it has taken increased surveillance by the police to reduce drink driving. What mentality can a person have to knowingly drink drive.

It shows massive disregard for others safety and well-being. I wonder if those same drink drivers would be first to suggest a lynching if it was someone close to them who got injured or worse at the hands of an inebriated driver.

Perhaps the pubs shutting near you are just down to poor management.

Gecko1978

9,717 posts

157 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
biggbn said:
I think we are making similar points. Why do we use big out of town places and Amazon? Convenience. Make city centres more convenient. Seems simple?
while you might be right I am not convinced the model of driving into town parking a walking round the shops is one that works v out of town shopping or looking on the internet. plus cost, good stored in a central warehouse cost a lot less than ones stored in a stick room on the high st etc (thinking coat of retail space). make town centres residential maybe is only option

biggbn

23,386 posts

220 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Gecko1978 said:
biggbn said:
I think we are making similar points. Why do we use big out of town places and Amazon? Convenience. Make city centres more convenient. Seems simple?
while you might be right I am not convinced the model of driving into town parking a walking round the shops is one that works v out of town shopping or looking on the internet. plus cost, good stored in a central warehouse cost a lot less than ones stored in a stick room on the high st etc (thinking coat of retail space). make town centres residential maybe is only option
I freely admit to being an idealist, but my aim would be to encourage people to get to know the town they live in. Build safe space children's play areas, encourage people to walk about, meet, mingle, form a genuine community, something online shopping/dating etc...etc...is eradicating at worst of replacing with a 'virtual' community at best.

Vaud

50,526 posts

155 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Nickgnome said:
Perhaps the pubs shutting near you are just down to poor management.
Beer has increased in price. The big chain landlords have made many businesses untenable. Young people (at least in some demographics) are drinking less.

NoNeed

15,137 posts

200 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
Vaud said:
Nickgnome said:
Perhaps the pubs shutting near you are just down to poor management.
Beer has increased in price. The big chain landlords have made many businesses untenable. Young people (at least in some demographics) are drinking less.
I think the smoking ban has had a big effect too

bazza white

3,561 posts

128 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
NoNeed said:
Vaud said:
Nickgnome said:
Perhaps the pubs shutting near you are just down to poor management.
Beer has increased in price. The big chain landlords have made many businesses untenable. Young people (at least in some demographics) are drinking less.
I think the smoking ban has had a big effect too
And supermarkets forcing down prices and then selling below cost has opened a huge gap between a can and a pint, same for wine, why buy a glass in a pub when you can have the bottle at home for less.

Vaud

50,526 posts

155 months

Saturday 17th August 2019
quotequote all
bazza white said:
And supermarkets forcing down prices and then selling below cost has opened a huge gap between a can and a pint, same for wine, why buy a glass in a pub when you can have the bottle at home for less.
And food... even higher end supermarket - e.g. Waitrose do a 2 mains and 2 sides for £10. Add £8 for a reasonable bottle of wine and people would rather be at home with their music / tv than eating a terrible steak in a pub with a pint at £3+ or wine at £4+ a glass?

£20 buys a nice(ish) meal and home comforts.
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