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Post by vjaska on Dec 2, 2020 17:30:04 GMT
The high street decline has always been a thing, but it's mainly down to a greedy government. High parking fees, high tax rates, pedestrianisation making it harder to get to said town centre, as capitalomnibus said artificial traffic jams, not a level enough market to accommodate all businesses (Amazon taking over), London cycling groups envisioning to be Holland (aka Sadiq khan trying to impress only remaining voters) and lack of investment in public transport. It really makes me feel sad for everyone who was made redundant. Hopefully things should change with the vaccination program and that once that is over hopefully normality will return. This Pandemic has really shown how bad both sides of politics are. The conservative party, the party of business have driven this country to the ground, I think we should've lockdowned earlier because at least we could control it before it got severe and where we then start to understand it and we could've then reopened earlier and even with how we dealt with it we didn't need a second lockdown, and then we have the Labour party in London who despite standing for the working class, have (not just now but even years prior) been less fixated on the working class and instead focused on the richer and upper class and this was especially apparent where those who ended up suffering with the LTNs were the tradespeople, the cabbies, the local businesses, the bus drivers, the high streets, the ambulance drivers and most importantly, the delivery drivers. As well as this they accepted back Corbyn of whom really let the party down with his anti semitic comments. And then even with Keir Starmer, he was putting too much pressure on the government and seemingly everytime they did something he'd always try pressuring them, particularly when they started reopening Britain. One particular thing you mentioned which I don't think gets highlighted enough is pedestrianisation and how it can have the opposite affect of what a council is trying to achieve. I think this is another reason why Brixton is a relatively successful town centre in that pedestrianisation is minimal and is implemented in the correct areas whilst most of the key & main shops along with the market are in a stones throw of each other and do not require lengthy walks or even short bus rides to reach all parts of the town centre - this may change as a business group in Brixton wants to pedestrianise two main roads in Brixton which would have serious knock on effects for traffic & for the 322 & P5 in particular especially in conjunction with nearby LTN's and Lambeth was supposed to be reviewing it sometime recently. Anyway, not only that but Brixton succeeds as well because it has an excellent and well known night life scene as well so when shops shut for the day, the tills begin to ring at the many pubs, bars & the variety of different restaurants from many parts of the world.
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Post by LondonNorthern on Dec 2, 2020 23:26:23 GMT
The high street decline has always been a thing, but it's mainly down to a greedy government. High parking fees, high tax rates, pedestrianisation making it harder to get to said town centre, as capitalomnibus said artificial traffic jams, not a level enough market to accommodate all businesses (Amazon taking over), London cycling groups envisioning to be Holland (aka Sadiq khan trying to impress only remaining voters) and lack of investment in public transport. It really makes me feel sad for everyone who was made redundant. Hopefully things should change with the vaccination program and that once that is over hopefully normality will return. This Pandemic has really shown how bad both sides of politics are. The conservative party, the party of business have driven this country to the ground, I think we should've lockdowned earlier because at least we could control it before it got severe and where we then start to understand it and we could've then reopened earlier and even with how we dealt with it we didn't need a second lockdown, and then we have the Labour party in London who despite standing for the working class, have (not just now but even years prior) been less fixated on the working class and instead focused on the richer and upper class and this was especially apparent where those who ended up suffering with the LTNs were the tradespeople, the cabbies, the local businesses, the bus drivers, the high streets, the ambulance drivers and most importantly, the delivery drivers. As well as this they accepted back Corbyn of whom really let the party down with his anti semitic comments. And then even with Keir Starmer, he was putting too much pressure on the government and seemingly everytime they did something he'd always try pressuring them, particularly when they started reopening Britain. One particular thing you mentioned which I don't think gets highlighted enough is pedestrianisation and how it can have the opposite affect of what a council is trying to achieve. I think this is another reason why Brixton is a relatively successful town centre in that pedestrianisation is minimal and is implemented in the correct areas whilst most of the key & main shops along with the market are in a stones throw of each other and do not require lengthy walks or even short bus rides to reach all parts of the town centre - this may change as a business group in Brixton wants to pedestrianise two main roads in Brixton which would have serious knock on effects for traffic & for the 322 & P5 in particular especially in conjunction with nearby LTN's and Lambeth was supposed to be reviewing it sometime recently. Anyway, not only that but Brixton succeeds as well because it has an excellent and well known night life scene as well so when shops shut for the day, the tills begin to ring at the many pubs, bars & the variety of different restaurants from many parts of the world. One of the things I see for Brixton in the next 10 years is where it turns into another Shoreditch, Dalston or Stoke Newington. Brixton from my view is probably going to turn into a more hipster area which will have all these fancy coffee shops nighttime locations etc. But there's one thing about brixton that interests me when I go there more than a lot of other places in London is the culture. This is not a high tech place like Shoreditch or anywhere like that, it has an incredibly local feel to it. I find that the Brixton market is an excellent place to go to. But there are a few things I'd suggest for these "planners" designing Brixton. - Really innovative Windrush Square. Look at the space you have already without taking more road space. It has a wide area and a plethera of bus stops at Lambeth Town Hall. You have, unlike in your plans, all bus routes towards Streatham Hill, Clapham Park, Herne Hill & Tulse Hill all in one area with buses towards Clapham Common nearby. You even have the P5 & 322 round the corner. You can create your own "Brixton Playground" in Windrush Square. - Instead of pedestrianising Atlantic Road, why not restrict traffic under certain times? Example between 7.30-6.30 (or whenever) motor traffic except buses are prohibited. Atlantic Road is not a road for driving really, it's more like an Exhibition Road (the one in South Kensington where people walk across all the time). Other roads like Shaftesbury Avenue could do with restricted motor traffic particularly between 12pm to 10:30pm where it's just buses and taxis. - in your plans encourage people cycling to use backstreets where you encouraged and placed the idiotic LTNs and leave the d*mn main roads alone. Invest in public transport where possible
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Post by vjaska on Dec 3, 2020 1:02:37 GMT
One particular thing you mentioned which I don't think gets highlighted enough is pedestrianisation and how it can have the opposite affect of what a council is trying to achieve. I think this is another reason why Brixton is a relatively successful town centre in that pedestrianisation is minimal and is implemented in the correct areas whilst most of the key & main shops along with the market are in a stones throw of each other and do not require lengthy walks or even short bus rides to reach all parts of the town centre - this may change as a business group in Brixton wants to pedestrianise two main roads in Brixton which would have serious knock on effects for traffic & for the 322 & P5 in particular especially in conjunction with nearby LTN's and Lambeth was supposed to be reviewing it sometime recently. Anyway, not only that but Brixton succeeds as well because it has an excellent and well known night life scene as well so when shops shut for the day, the tills begin to ring at the many pubs, bars & the variety of different restaurants from many parts of the world. One of the things I see for Brixton in the next 10 years is where it turns into another Shoreditch, Dalston or Stoke Newington. Brixton from my view is probably going to turn into a more hipster area which will have all these fancy coffee shops nighttime locations etc. But there's one thing about brixton that interests me when I go there more than a lot of other places in London is the culture. This is not a high tech place like Shoreditch or anywhere like that, it has an incredibly local feel to it. I find that the Brixton market is an excellent place to go to. But there are a few things I'd suggest for these "planners" designing Brixton. - Really innovative Windrush Square. Look at the space you have already without taking more road space. It has a wide area and a plethera of bus stops at Lambeth Town Hall. You have, unlike in your plans, all bus routes towards Streatham Hill, Clapham Park, Herne Hill & Tulse Hill all in one area with buses towards Clapham Common nearby. You even have the P5 & 322 round the corner. You can create your own "Brixton Playground" in Windrush Square. - Instead of pedestrianising Atlantic Road, why not restrict traffic under certain times? Example between 7.30-6.30 (or whenever) motor traffic except buses are prohibited. Atlantic Road is not a road for driving really, it's more like an Exhibition Road (the one in South Kensington where people walk across all the time). Other roads like Shaftesbury Avenue could do with restricted motor traffic particularly between 12pm to 10:30pm where it's just buses and taxis. - in your plans encourage people cycling to use backstreets where you encouraged and placed the idiotic LTNs and leave the d*mn main roads alone. Invest in public transport where possible Brixton is already sort of like that in places where the yuppies are slowly taking over and driving out the poorer people - the estate agents on Brixton Road a few doors down from McDonalds has been targeted by people on a number of occasions as a symbol of gentrification. If the Afro-Carribean culture survives, Brixton survives but if it doesn't, then it could run into trouble further down the line. Windrush Square is a pretty recent addition to Brixton in the late 90's as previously, it was the site of Grey Green's old coach depot & a petrol station after that before being turned into the first incarnation of Windrush Square which featured a fence all the way around bordering Saltoun Road, Effra Road and Rushcroft Road as Rushcroft Road ran onto Effra Road but was closed off in it's current form when Windrush Square was revamped. It's used as a small patch of land for people to sunbath and also by local concerts and marches during good weather. They could create what you say but they want it all on the doorsteps of the clubs and pubs along Coldharbour Lane Atlantic Road's main purpose is to get traffic from Railton Road onto Brixton Road without using Coldharbour Lane as that involves a longer route when wanting to head northbound and there is a banned left turn from Brixton Road into Coldharbour Lane (some idiotic cyclists seem to think it doesn't apply to them though) which means southbound traffic must use Atlantic Road so to restrict traffic wouldn't work either personally unless the area see's a reduction in general traffic first. I've a radical plan for Brixton that would annoy many car owners but it needs some permanent reduction in traffic first before being implemented. If the LTN's wern't in place, you could do your restriction idea to Coldharbour Lane though.
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Post by LondonNorthern on Dec 3, 2020 8:51:03 GMT
One of the things I see for Brixton in the next 10 years is where it turns into another Shoreditch, Dalston or Stoke Newington. Brixton from my view is probably going to turn into a more hipster area which will have all these fancy coffee shops nighttime locations etc. But there's one thing about brixton that interests me when I go there more than a lot of other places in London is the culture. This is not a high tech place like Shoreditch or anywhere like that, it has an incredibly local feel to it. I find that the Brixton market is an excellent place to go to. But there are a few things I'd suggest for these "planners" designing Brixton. - Really innovative Windrush Square. Look at the space you have already without taking more road space. It has a wide area and a plethera of bus stops at Lambeth Town Hall. You have, unlike in your plans, all bus routes towards Streatham Hill, Clapham Park, Herne Hill & Tulse Hill all in one area with buses towards Clapham Common nearby. You even have the P5 & 322 round the corner. You can create your own "Brixton Playground" in Windrush Square. - Instead of pedestrianising Atlantic Road, why not restrict traffic under certain times? Example between 7.30-6.30 (or whenever) motor traffic except buses are prohibited. Atlantic Road is not a road for driving really, it's more like an Exhibition Road (the one in South Kensington where people walk across all the time). Other roads like Shaftesbury Avenue could do with restricted motor traffic particularly between 12pm to 10:30pm where it's just buses and taxis. - in your plans encourage people cycling to use backstreets where you encouraged and placed the idiotic LTNs and leave the d*mn main roads alone. Invest in public transport where possible Brixton is already sort of like that in places where the yuppies are slowly taking over and driving out the poorer people - the estate agents on Brixton Road a few doors down from McDonalds has been targeted by people on a number of occasions as a symbol of gentrification. If the Afro-Carribean culture survives, Brixton survives but if it doesn't, then it could run into trouble further down the line. Windrush Square is a pretty recent addition to Brixton in the late 90's as previously, it was the site of Grey Green's old coach depot & a petrol station after that before being turned into the first incarnation of Windrush Square which featured a fence all the way around bordering Saltoun Road, Effra Road and Rushcroft Road as Rushcroft Road ran onto Effra Road but was closed off in it's current form when Windrush Square was revamped. It's used as a small patch of land for people to sunbath and also by local concerts and marches during good weather. They could create what you say but they want it all on the doorsteps of the clubs and pubs along Coldharbour Lane Atlantic Road's main purpose is to get traffic from Railton Road onto Brixton Road without using Coldharbour Lane as that involves a longer route when wanting to head northbound and there is a banned left turn from Brixton Road into Coldharbour Lane (some idiotic cyclists seem to think it doesn't apply to them though) which means southbound traffic must use Atlantic Road so to restrict traffic wouldn't work either personally unless the area see's a reduction in general traffic first. I've a radical plan for Brixton that would annoy many car owners but it needs some permanent reduction in traffic first before being implemented. If the LTN's wern't in place, you could do your restriction idea to Coldharbour Lane though. The way they call it a "Brixton Playground" really interests me - I'm pretty sure there's a playground in At Matthew's Church already It's really intriguing how much these planners take but don't give back to the local community - they take roads but don't give anything back except high traffic.
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Post by greenboy on Dec 3, 2020 12:19:13 GMT
I don't believe that many places are opening 24 hours from what I have seen the latest will be 10 or 11pm closing. Even if places are open 24 hours the company should lay on private hire transport,can't hardly justify opening up the tube 24 hours for a few shops opening. I agree it is pathetic and there is no need for many of these stores to be open 24 hours. i.e. I have heard Primark is going to be opened for 24 hours, pointless imo. It is not as if we need to buy clothes every day or every month. Besides why do they think everyone is going to be going out on that first day. Seems the 24hr Primark at Bluewater was very busy www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/visited-bluewaters-24-hour-primark-4759781.amp
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2020 12:38:46 GMT
I agree it is pathetic and there is no need for many of these stores to be open 24 hours. i.e. I have heard Primark is going to be opened for 24 hours, pointless imo. It is not as if we need to buy clothes every day or every month. Besides why do they think everyone is going to be going out on that first day. Seems the 24hr Primark at Bluewater was very busy www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/visited-bluewaters-24-hour-primark-4759781.ampI went in my local primark yesterday, normal Wednesday pre-Christmas level of busy. Debenhams however was rammed, 20 deep at every till and there weren’t even any bargains. Reminds me of the last few weeks of Woolworths.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2020 13:27:15 GMT
I went in my local primark yesterday, normal Wednesday pre-Christmas level of busy. Debenhams however was rammed, 20 deep at every till and there weren’t even any bargains. Reminds me of the last few weeks of Woolworths. Sadly can see another big spike in cases from mid January. Closing down sales in the middle of a pandemic what could go wrong.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 3, 2020 13:37:17 GMT
I went in my local primark yesterday, normal Wednesday pre-Christmas level of busy. Debenhams however was rammed, 20 deep at every till and there weren’t even any bargains. Reminds me of the last few weeks of Woolworths. Sadly can see another big spike in cases from mid January. Closing down sales in the middle of a pandemic what could go wrong. To be honest that's the most ironic thing to ever happen as a result of this stupid government's mis-management. A store goes bust, predominantly due to the pandemic, then severe crowds build up to the sales. Chances are neither would have happened if this was was planned properly
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Post by greenboy on Dec 3, 2020 13:53:11 GMT
Sadly can see another big spike in cases from mid January. Closing down sales in the middle of a pandemic what could go wrong. To be honest that's the most ironic thing to ever happen as a result of this stupid government's mis-management. A store goes bust, predominantly due to the pandemic, then severe crowds build up to the sales. Chances are neither would have happened if this was was planned properly What stupid government mismanagement? Nobody is forced to attend these sales, I certainly won't be. I don't see how the government can control commercial businesses anyway.
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Post by Eastlondoner62 on Dec 3, 2020 13:56:03 GMT
To be honest that's the most ironic thing to ever happen as a result of this stupid government's mis-management. A store goes bust, predominantly due to the pandemic, then severe crowds build up to the sales. Chances are neither would have happened if this was was planned properly What stupid government mismanagement? Nobody is forced to attend these sales, I certainly won't be. I don't see how the government can control commercial businesses anyway. Grants could really have been provided to these businesses, Debenhams was on its way to getting a good deal prior to the pandemic and the pandemic is what forced it into administration. The government are also allowing the overcrowding of shops to facilitate these sales.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2020 13:57:39 GMT
Sadly can see another big spike in cases from mid January. Closing down sales in the middle of a pandemic what could go wrong. To be honest that's the most ironic thing to ever happen as a result of this stupid government's mis-management. A store goes bust, predominantly due to the pandemic, then severe crowds build up to the sales. Chances are neither would have happened if this was was planned properly I don’t think you can blame any government for 20+ years of bad management at Debenhams. It’s been on its way out for a long time and whilst a pandemic hasn’t helped Debenhams has been on the decline for the last decade. It would not have survived long term.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2020 13:59:51 GMT
What stupid government mismanagement? Nobody is forced to attend these sales, I certainly won't be. I don't see how the government can control commercial businesses anyway. Grants could really have been provided to these businesses, Debenhams was on its way to getting a good deal prior to the pandemic and the pandemic is what forced it into administration. The government are also allowing the overcrowding of shops to facilitate these sales. So not the £700 million+ of debt it held before because previous management so the stores which it owned and then leased back whilst the investors gained £1.2 billion back. Sorry but pandemic or no pandemic Debenhams would have not limped on much longer.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2020 14:02:42 GMT
What stupid government mismanagement? Nobody is forced to attend these sales, I certainly won't be. I don't see how the government can control commercial businesses anyway. Grants could really have been provided to these businesses, Debenhams was on its way to getting a good deal prior to the pandemic and the pandemic is what forced it into administration. The government are also allowing the overcrowding of shops to facilitate these sales. Exactly can't see the staff at Debenhams being too worried about crowd control when they won't have a job in a few weeks.
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Post by vjaska on Dec 3, 2020 14:42:51 GMT
Grants could really have been provided to these businesses, Debenhams was on its way to getting a good deal prior to the pandemic and the pandemic is what forced it into administration. The government are also allowing the overcrowding of shops to facilitate these sales. So not the £700 million+ of debt it held before because previous management so the stores which it owned and then leased back whilst the investors gained £1.2 billion back. Sorry but pandemic or no pandemic Debenhams would have not limped on much longer. It's clear the pandemic sped up Debenhams decline but I don't think anyone for certain could say when it's demise would of come and if a deal with Mike Ashley who was the most interested buyer after JD Sports late arrival and someone renowned for turning around ailing shops wouldn't of happened. His attention has suddenly been turned elsewhere due to the tasty option of potentially acquiring Arcadia and JD Sports shareholders had misgivings over taking over a business they had no experience in. For me, if there wasn't a pandemic, Debenhams would of been eventually been brought by Ashley and really should of sold it to him before at the £150m he offered - why they thought they would get £300m for a ailing business is what people and staff should be asking for as the potential to save a chunk of jobs was always there.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2020 15:36:39 GMT
So not the £700 million+ of debt it held before because previous management so the stores which it owned and then leased back whilst the investors gained £1.2 billion back. Sorry but pandemic or no pandemic Debenhams would have not limped on much longer. It's clear the pandemic sped up Debenhams decline but I don't think anyone for certain could say when it's demise would of come and if a deal with Mike Ashley who was the most interested buyer after JD Sports late arrival and someone renowned for turning around ailing shops wouldn't of happened. His attention has suddenly been turned elsewhere due to the tasty option of potentially acquiring Arcadia and JD Sports shareholders had misgivings over taking over a business they had no experience in. For me, if there wasn't a pandemic, Debenhams would of been eventually been brought by Ashley and really should of sold it to him before at the £150m he offered - why they thought they would get £300m for a ailing business is what people and staff should be asking for as the potential to save a chunk of jobs was always there. if you recall Mike Ashley tried to buy Debenhams not long after he acquired HoF, but it was rejected and he declared he was not interested in the business anymore. JD pulled out because of the collapse of Arcadia, not because they had no confidence in Debenhams as a business. The problem with Debenhams is that they have too many concession brands and not enough in house owned brands, which ultimately left them vulnerable to other high street closures. I think Ashley will end up buying some parts of Arcadia like Topshop, Topman and Burton that will be better fits for expanding HoF, potentially into some of the empty Debenhams stores. Picking off Arcadia would make sense for Frasers Group as they pick and choose what they want and tailor it to better suit them. USC would in my opinion be an excellent fit with Burton as a partner brand rather than Dorothy Perkins. In my opinion Debenhams would have gone eventually, it’s just the pandemic sped up the process. Do I think they were wrong to turn down the offer from Sports Direct at the previous administration, yes, but then hindsight is 2020 and they couldn’t have predicted the effects of the pandemic.
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