The high street

MegaSteve said:
Parking charges are only a problem if you feel using public transport is beneath you...
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That is if you have any in the public transport first place or at least a reasonably reliable service that gives you enough time to be in the town before needing to catch the last bus of the day back home.
 
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jim8flog said:
That is if you have any in the public transport first place or at least a reasonably reliable service that gives you enough time to be in the town before needing to catch the last bus of the day back home.
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I live in a London borough so we have fantastic bus services

I work for London Underground so I get the buses free on my staff pass as does my wife

We still would drive to any shopping we need.. specially since little lady arrived. Buses and kids are a nightmare

High streets are overatted for sure.. I’d rather go online or to lakeside

Went shopping yest to a marks and Spencer outlet.. got a shirt , trousers and tie for £45 for my mates wedding next week
 
bobmac said:
Do we actually need a 'high street'?
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Probably my bad bob mac, when I said high street I probably should of said town centre.
when I look at Mansfield. It has gone from a thriving, buzzing town centre that had an excellent public transport, with an excellent market. Into a drug riddled dump of a ghost town. The council just don't see what the problems are amongst other things.
Missis T reckons a lot of the things you could buy on the market are now bought in Primark, which endorses that cheap and cheerful is the way forward. Although age not found there fruit and veg aisle yet.
 
I couldn't purchase clothes without picking them up and trying them on, or many other items without sampling them first.

If the High Street dies then the jobs supporting it die. The problem with shops in general is the extortionate business rates they have to pay and with nothing much to show for the cost, they don't even get their rubbish collected.
 
SocketRocket said:
I couldn't purchase clothes without picking them up and trying them on, or many other items without sampling them first.

If the High Street dies then the jobs supporting it die. The problem with shops in general is the extortionate business rates they have to pay and with nothing much to show for the cost, they don't even get their rubbish collected.
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The jobs wouldn't be lost, just relocated.
A big shopping area just on the edge of town with a B&Q, Currys/PC World, Argos, Asda, American Golf, Mcdonalds, cafes, bars etc.

Free parking in big parking bays.

Or drive round rammed one way systems, fight for a parking space in a cramped multi storey at £3 an hour and and get your doors dented by someone who doesn't leave their details, then queue for 20 mins to get out.
 
jim8flog said:
That is if you have any in the public transport first place or at least a reasonably reliable service that gives you enough time to be in the town before needing to catch the last bus of the day back home.
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As I noted in #13 if living in the back end of the middle of nowhere then I accept public transport is not, perhaps, viable...
But, for the vast majority, living in urban areas, they simply can't be asked and feel its beneath them... Even oldies, like me, who get to ride for free...
 
bobmac said:
The jobs wouldn't be lost, just relocated.
A big shopping area just on the edge of town with a B&Q, Currys/PC World, Argos, Asda, American Golf, Mcdonalds, cafes, bars etc.

Free parking in big parking bays.

Or drive round rammed one way systems, fight for a parking space in a cramped multi storey at £3 an hour and and get your doors dented by someone who doesn't leave their details, then queue for 20 mins to get out.
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I have the option of using out of town shopping areas and you can queue for 20mins both to get in and then get out... And they are totally underwhelming places to go to...

I look forward to visiting proper old fashioned High Streets where there is proper butchers, bakers and green grocers... Which have all but disappeared in these parts...
 
The more isolated towns in my area like Stranraer and Newton Stewart, seem to be doing quite nicely with very few closed shops. I think that is because they have incorporated the supermarkets into their high streets.
The ones such as Dunbar and Kilmarnock with out of town superstores that are also nearer to the cities seem to be struggling.
 
bobmac said:
The jobs wouldn't be lost, just relocated.
A big shopping area just on the edge of town with a B&Q, Currys/PC World, Argos, Asda, American Golf, Mcdonalds, cafes, bars etc.

Free parking in big parking bays.

Or drive round rammed one way systems, fight for a parking space in a cramped multi storey at £3 an hour and and get your doors dented by someone who doesn't leave their details, then queue for 20 mins to get out.
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I agree with this but I was comparing on line shopping with shopping in a store.
 
If there was sufficient public demand for the High Street experience then stores would not be closing at their current rate.

Public tastes change and no amount of tinkering with Business Rates etc; will alter that.

The High Street: RIP.
 
MetalMickie said:
If there was sufficient public demand for the High Street experience then stores would not be closing at their current rate.

Public tastes change and no amount of tinkering with Business Rates etc; will alter that.

The High Street: RIP.
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Don't underestimate the impact of business rates on a business. Our factory is on an industrial estate and we pay more in business rates than rent. There has been a recalculation recently and that could take a perfectly profitable business and push it into the red. It's worse for high street sites as their rates will be high. Yes, some high street's will have to end but some are being pushed towards closure through no fault of their own.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
Don't underestimate the impact of business rates on a business. Our factory is on an industrial estate and we pay more in business rates than rent. There has been a recalculation recently and that could take a perfectly profitable business and push it into the red. It's worse for high street sites as their rates will be high. Yes, some high street's will have to end but some are being pushed towards closure through no fault of their own.
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I certainly don't underestimate their effect.

My point is that there is no longer sufficient demand to support a vibrant High Street.

Even city centre shopping malls have a detrimental effect on the remainder. In Leicester the High Cross has succeeded in draining the life from the traditional shopping areas.

Physical shopping tends now to be focused on "One stop" centres, either in or out of town, and more and more of the "Retail Pound" will continue to be spent on line.
 
pauljames87 said:
However in the same vein .. (no offence) do we need a pro shop? Some courses these days are just like a reception with balls and tees available and that’s it.. do we need clubs .. shoes etc with outlet stores and online?
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That is an entirely different argument. You are talking about a specialised market, the majority of people are not going to buy clubs without some form of trial or fitting beforehand. There is also teaching services to be considered too. My club has an excellent and well supported pro shop, it would be much worse off without it.
 
drive4show said:
That is an entirely different argument. You are talking about a specialised market, the majority of people are not going to buy clubs without some form of trial or fitting beforehand. There is also teaching services to be considered too. My club has an excellent and well supported pro shop, it would be much worse off without it.
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You don’t need a pro shop to teach just need a teaching pro and a reception without the need to tie up money in stock

Few essentials behind the counter. Food and drink then you are good to go
 
pauljames87 said:
No we don’t

Back in the day when people didn’t drive and online delivery wasn’t available we needed it

Now we don’t

However in the same vein .. (no offence) do we need a pro shop? Some courses these days are just like a reception with balls and tees available and that’s it.. do we need clubs .. shoes etc with outlet stores and online?
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If you feel you don’t need a pro shop then would suggest your pro shop isn’t doing enough

Our pro shop and the staff are an integral part of the club , they are there for more than selling golf equipment and your drinks , the amount of hidden work a lot of pro shops do can never be under estimated - a golf club without a good pro shop is a poor club imo
 
Liverpoolphil said:
If you feel you don’t need a pro shop then would suggest your pro shop isn’t doing enough

Our pro shop and the staff are an integral part of the club , they are there for more than selling golf equipment and your drinks , the amount of hidden work a lot of pro shops do can never be under estimated - a golf club without a good pro shop is a poor club imo
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This all day long, chuffed to bits with the services our high street club shop offers.
 
pauljames87 said:
You don’t need a pro shop to teach just need a teaching pro and a reception without the need to tie up money in stock

Few essentials behind the counter. Food and drink then you are good to go
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Fair enough if that is all you want but the guys in my shop do a fantastic job. As Phil says they do a lot more than sell Mars bars.
 
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