Call for Asda to remove empty shops ‘eyesore’

9:00am Friday 1st March 2013 in News

RESIDENTS and councillors in Astley Bridge have called on a supermarket giant to clean up a row of “depressing and unsightly” shop units.

Conservative councillor Hilary Fairclough has written to retail giant Asda about the condition of the units at its store in Blackburn Road.

Cllr Fairclough said she had been contacted by nearby businesses and residents who branded the appearance of the units “an eyesore” and “a blight on the landscape”.

She said: “The shops are all empty and boarded up.

“I believe that Asda originally had plans to demolish and improve the car parking, however, for some reason, this was put on hold and so the shops are just making the area look neglected and run down. I did contact them with some short-term ideas that might make the area look better and hopefully show the store in a good light.

“The residents and businesses feel really let down by the dreadful appearance of the approach to the store.

“I understand that to let the shops at low rents would be problematic, and costly.

“I assume most to the services are no longer available and to get them into any sort of shape would be expensive, so I was looking at purely cosmetic and hopefully beneficial to all parties.” Nearby resident Arthur Rawlinson, of Stambourne Drive, said: “These properties are a blight on the Astley Bridge landscape.

“Asda owe it to the local community and in particular the businesses directly opposite the properties to explain their plans and timescales for the redevelopment of the site.

“If their plans have been delayed due to the economic climate, the minimum they should do is immediately demolish the properties and level the site.” Eastgrove Avenue resident Pat Gyongyosi said: “Rather than the eyesore we have it would be wonderful for the row of shops to be part of Asda and extend the clothes section.”

An Asda spokesman said: “We are currently reviewing our options with regards to our Bolton store to ensure we continue to offer our customers a great shopping experience.”

Comments (12)

9:17am Fri 1 Mar 13

BWFC71 says...

That is definitely a bit rich coming from a Bolton councillor.

Yes the empty retail units on Blackburn Road do look unsightly, but has the counillor been into Bolton town centre where the problem is at least 50 times worse!!!
That is definitely a bit rich coming from a Bolton councillor. Yes the empty retail units on Blackburn Road do look unsightly, but has the counillor been into Bolton town centre where the problem is at least 50 times worse!!! BWFC71

9:32am Fri 1 Mar 13

Marzi30 says...

There is at least enough room within this row of empty units to open a couple of Pound Shops, a Cheque/Cash Generator shop, a Bookmakers and a Charity Shop, thus keeping up with Bolton Council's current regeneration policy. Come on Councillor Fairclough, get with the scheme !!!
There is at least enough room within this row of empty units to open a couple of Pound Shops, a Cheque/Cash Generator shop, a Bookmakers and a Charity Shop, thus keeping up with Bolton Council's current regeneration policy. Come on Councillor Fairclough, get with the scheme !!! Marzi30

2:27pm Fri 1 Mar 13

atlas123 says...

You forgot the takeaway....
You forgot the takeaway.... atlas123

4:39pm Fri 1 Mar 13

steveG says...

This is hypocrisy at its most amusing.
Perhaps,if Hilary has some good ideas she would be better putting them to effect in the town centre.
This is hypocrisy at its most amusing. Perhaps,if Hilary has some good ideas she would be better putting them to effect in the town centre. steveG

8:14pm Fri 1 Mar 13

tony000 says...

i thought bolton council where going to fine people with empty propertys or dose this just apply to houses as if it was shops and offices bolton council would end up oweing millions
i thought bolton council where going to fine people with empty propertys or dose this just apply to houses as if it was shops and offices bolton council would end up oweing millions tony000

9:31pm Fri 1 Mar 13

BWFC71 says...

tony000 wrote:
i thought bolton council where going to fine people with empty propertys or dose this just apply to houses as if it was shops and offices bolton council would end up oweing millions
Why would Bolton Council end up owing millions?

Considering they don't own any retail property and the only office space the own is the Town Hall and Le-Mans crescent! Any other Council offices or space they use they actually rent from private landlords!!!
[quote][p][bold]tony000[/bold] wrote: i thought bolton council where going to fine people with empty propertys or dose this just apply to houses as if it was shops and offices bolton council would end up oweing millions[/p][/quote]Why would Bolton Council end up owing millions? Considering they don't own any retail property and the only office space the own is the Town Hall and Le-Mans crescent! Any other Council offices or space they use they actually rent from private landlords!!! BWFC71

9:32pm Fri 1 Mar 13

BWFC71 says...

PS they also own the Open Market and the parks - even the car-parks are not Council property!
PS they also own the Open Market and the parks - even the car-parks are not Council property! BWFC71

10:56pm Fri 1 Mar 13

BWFC71 says...

What up Tony, downscoring me because you don't like the truth getting in the way of a good untrue story???

I blame the council for many things but I keep it real and know when they are to blame and not to blame.
What up Tony, downscoring me because you don't like the truth getting in the way of a good untrue story??? I blame the council for many things but I keep it real and know when they are to blame and not to blame. BWFC71

12:39pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Reed Lover says...

I think ASDAs response is typically arrogant and sniffy. They do not care.
Not only have they allowed that road facing line of properties bring down the whole look of Astley Bridge and Sharples, there is constant noise and disruption in the early hours of Mondays through Fridays. As a local resident I believe they completely ignore their duty to tackle anti-social behaviour directly related to their 24 hr opening policy.
I think it is time we demanded ASDA got its act together and tackle that eyesore and the loud anti-social behaviour in the early hours of the morning. I will be contacting them, local residents (of whom I am one) and local MPs and councillors to ensure they treat the local community with more respect. I think their 24 hr opening policy is unreasonable in a residential area like Astley Bridge and that Bolton Council should question ASDAs seeming uncaring attitude.
I think ASDAs response is typically arrogant and sniffy. They do not care. Not only have they allowed that road facing line of properties bring down the whole look of Astley Bridge and Sharples, there is constant noise and disruption in the early hours of Mondays through Fridays. As a local resident I believe they completely ignore their duty to tackle anti-social behaviour directly related to their 24 hr opening policy. I think it is time we demanded ASDA got its act together and tackle that eyesore and the loud anti-social behaviour in the early hours of the morning. I will be contacting them, local residents (of whom I am one) and local MPs and councillors to ensure they treat the local community with more respect. I think their 24 hr opening policy is unreasonable in a residential area like Astley Bridge and that Bolton Council should question ASDAs seeming uncaring attitude. Reed Lover

3:04pm Sat 2 Mar 13

BWFC71 says...

Reed Lover wrote:
I think ASDAs response is typically arrogant and sniffy. They do not care.
Not only have they allowed that road facing line of properties bring down the whole look of Astley Bridge and Sharples, there is constant noise and disruption in the early hours of Mondays through Fridays. As a local resident I believe they completely ignore their duty to tackle anti-social behaviour directly related to their 24 hr opening policy.
I think it is time we demanded ASDA got its act together and tackle that eyesore and the loud anti-social behaviour in the early hours of the morning. I will be contacting them, local residents (of whom I am one) and local MPs and councillors to ensure they treat the local community with more respect. I think their 24 hr opening policy is unreasonable in a residential area like Astley Bridge and that Bolton Council should question ASDAs seeming uncaring attitude.
But Bolton Council do not question the private Landlords of all the boaded up and empty retail units in the town centre, so why should they be bothered about a local retail outlet like Astley Bridge?

It isn't just about Astley Bridge as Farnworth is the same, so is Horwich, Westhoughton, Harwood, etc etc etc but Bolton Council seem to not give two-hoots!
[quote][p][bold]Reed Lover[/bold] wrote: I think ASDAs response is typically arrogant and sniffy. They do not care. Not only have they allowed that road facing line of properties bring down the whole look of Astley Bridge and Sharples, there is constant noise and disruption in the early hours of Mondays through Fridays. As a local resident I believe they completely ignore their duty to tackle anti-social behaviour directly related to their 24 hr opening policy. I think it is time we demanded ASDA got its act together and tackle that eyesore and the loud anti-social behaviour in the early hours of the morning. I will be contacting them, local residents (of whom I am one) and local MPs and councillors to ensure they treat the local community with more respect. I think their 24 hr opening policy is unreasonable in a residential area like Astley Bridge and that Bolton Council should question ASDAs seeming uncaring attitude.[/p][/quote]But Bolton Council do not question the private Landlords of all the boaded up and empty retail units in the town centre, so why should they be bothered about a local retail outlet like Astley Bridge? It isn't just about Astley Bridge as Farnworth is the same, so is Horwich, Westhoughton, Harwood, etc etc etc but Bolton Council seem to not give two-hoots! BWFC71

10:14pm Sat 2 Mar 13

toryhater says...

BWFC71 wrote:
Reed Lover wrote:
I think ASDAs response is typically arrogant and sniffy. They do not care.
Not only have they allowed that road facing line of properties bring down the whole look of Astley Bridge and Sharples, there is constant noise and disruption in the early hours of Mondays through Fridays. As a local resident I believe they completely ignore their duty to tackle anti-social behaviour directly related to their 24 hr opening policy.
I think it is time we demanded ASDA got its act together and tackle that eyesore and the loud anti-social behaviour in the early hours of the morning. I will be contacting them, local residents (of whom I am one) and local MPs and councillors to ensure they treat the local community with more respect. I think their 24 hr opening policy is unreasonable in a residential area like Astley Bridge and that Bolton Council should question ASDAs seeming uncaring attitude.
But Bolton Council do not question the private Landlords of all the boaded up and empty retail units in the town centre, so why should they be bothered about a local retail outlet like Astley Bridge?

It isn't just about Astley Bridge as Farnworth is the same, so is Horwich, Westhoughton, Harwood, etc etc etc but Bolton Council seem to not give two-hoots!
Is it not the big businesses that dictate what is open and what is closed in either community areas or indeed the town centre??? Most news reports on the general decline of town centres in general (Bolton being absolutely no exception to this rule) points to big business opening up in retail parks, and ultimately they are responsible for the state of our towns by building outside of town centres and not investing or opening up in town centres, put the blame squarely were it should be on them
[quote][p][bold]BWFC71[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Reed Lover[/bold] wrote: I think ASDAs response is typically arrogant and sniffy. They do not care. Not only have they allowed that road facing line of properties bring down the whole look of Astley Bridge and Sharples, there is constant noise and disruption in the early hours of Mondays through Fridays. As a local resident I believe they completely ignore their duty to tackle anti-social behaviour directly related to their 24 hr opening policy. I think it is time we demanded ASDA got its act together and tackle that eyesore and the loud anti-social behaviour in the early hours of the morning. I will be contacting them, local residents (of whom I am one) and local MPs and councillors to ensure they treat the local community with more respect. I think their 24 hr opening policy is unreasonable in a residential area like Astley Bridge and that Bolton Council should question ASDAs seeming uncaring attitude.[/p][/quote]But Bolton Council do not question the private Landlords of all the boaded up and empty retail units in the town centre, so why should they be bothered about a local retail outlet like Astley Bridge? It isn't just about Astley Bridge as Farnworth is the same, so is Horwich, Westhoughton, Harwood, etc etc etc but Bolton Council seem to not give two-hoots![/p][/quote]Is it not the big businesses that dictate what is open and what is closed in either community areas or indeed the town centre??? Most news reports on the general decline of town centres in general (Bolton being absolutely no exception to this rule) points to big business opening up in retail parks, and ultimately they are responsible for the state of our towns by building outside of town centres and not investing or opening up in town centres, put the blame squarely were it should be on them toryhater

12:23am Sun 3 Mar 13

BWFC71 says...

But its down to the council to approve or decline applications and entice businesses into the town/borough.

But again with Out-of-town shopping parks its a tiny percentage of landlords who own the properties and not big businesses - but again its teh councils fault for being led by the businesses rather than the Council leading the businesses, as it should be!
But its down to the council to approve or decline applications and entice businesses into the town/borough. But again with Out-of-town shopping parks its a tiny percentage of landlords who own the properties and not big businesses - but again its teh councils fault for being led by the businesses rather than the Council leading the businesses, as it should be! BWFC71

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