Call to support Accrington shops as closure figure hits an all-time high

1:08pm Saturday 23rd June 2012 in North West Photograph of the Author By Emma Cruces, Reporter

Call to support Accrington as almost quarter of shops closed Call to support Accrington as almost quarter of shops closed

EMPTY shops in Accrington are at an all-time high with a figure of 22 per cent of town centre shops closed.

Recent closures in the town have affected the town’s Arndale Centre units including Clinton’s Cards, Thornton’s, an independent stationers, J and T Cosmetics and Bon Marche.

The closures are in addition to a high number of empty shops which began to appear on Blackburn Road, Broadway, and surrounding areas at the start of the recession.

The figure of 22 per cent was compiled by Hyndburn Council as they explored ways to improve the town centre.

The council say the high figure of empty shops is a reflection of the recession and urged local people to support their town centre.

Deputy council leader Clare Pritchard said Accrington was still vibrant and should weather the low points in the economy.

She said: “We’ve been getting a lot of interest in the market hall for example, and given out some new leases, so it is not all doom and gloom.

"Obviously when national chains are being affected nation-wide, town like Accrington will also feel the effects.

“I think the town is still quite vibrant and we are lucky to have the variety of independent traders that we have in the town. It is a recession though, and you have to expect some problems. We will keep parking free in the town and urge everyone to support the town centre and not shop elsewhere.”

Arndale trader Philip Brown manages Fulton Foods, which took over Farmfoods which closed last year.

He said: “It does sound depressing when you quote that figure, but it’s business as usual for most of us. I think mostly it’s a knock-on effect from national problems.

"Trade is good for us at the moment.”

Comments (11)

2:09pm Sat 23 Jun 12

2 for 5p says...

Quote
The council say the high figure of empty shops is a reflection of the recession and urged local people to support their town centre.

Sorry pall in a recession I'll go were its cheapest, you want my custom you lower your prices
Quote The council say the high figure of empty shops is a reflection of the recession and urged local people to support their town centre. Sorry pall in a recession I'll go were its cheapest, you want my custom you lower your prices 2 for 5p

2:24pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Venomp says...

If the Arndale want customers then firstly they should lower the rents to get footfall
If the Arndale want customers then firstly they should lower the rents to get footfall Venomp

3:18pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Venomp says...

At the. precise moment theres nothing in the Arndale. the centre should be extended and redeveloped to such an extent that out of town people come too
At the. precise moment theres nothing in the Arndale. the centre should be extended and redeveloped to such an extent that out of town people come too Venomp

4:20pm Sat 23 Jun 12

mavrick says...

The best way to revive Accrington Town centre is to develop the outside Market. Suggestions have been made and duly ignored by previous councils.
The best way to revive Accrington Town centre is to develop the outside Market. Suggestions have been made and duly ignored by previous councils. mavrick

4:37pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Coeur de Lion says...

2 for 5p wrote:
Quote
The council say the high figure of empty shops is a reflection of the recession and urged local people to support their town centre.

Sorry pall in a recession I'll go were its cheapest, you want my custom you lower your prices
Yes I couldn't believe the prices in the £1 shop.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: Quote The council say the high figure of empty shops is a reflection of the recession and urged local people to support their town centre. Sorry pall in a recession I'll go were its cheapest, you want my custom you lower your prices[/p][/quote]Yes I couldn't believe the prices in the £1 shop. Coeur de Lion

5:42pm Sat 23 Jun 12

Michael@ClitheroeSince58 says...

mavrick wrote:
The best way to revive Accrington Town centre is to develop the outside Market. Suggestions have been made and duly ignored by previous councils.
The market was the main reason we all came to Skankrington, but some one had to totally destroy it to a couple of stalls oh well! to late now.
[quote][p][bold]mavrick[/bold] wrote: The best way to revive Accrington Town centre is to develop the outside Market. Suggestions have been made and duly ignored by previous councils.[/p][/quote]The market was the main reason we all came to Skankrington, but some one had to totally destroy it to a couple of stalls oh well! to late now. Michael@ClitheroeSince58

8:29pm Sat 23 Jun 12

darwen_celeb says...

Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market...

...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home.

I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.?
Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market... ...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home. I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.? darwen_celeb

12:58pm Sun 24 Jun 12

rggraham1947 says...

darwen_celeb wrote:
Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market... ...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home. I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.?
Create a level playing field; 2 hours free parking everywhere in town, after which you have to pay (including TESCO, who would be charged a market rent in proportion to the total floor area they occupy).
[quote][p][bold]darwen_celeb[/bold] wrote: Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market... ...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home. I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.?[/p][/quote]Create a level playing field; 2 hours free parking everywhere in town, after which you have to pay (including TESCO, who would be charged a market rent in proportion to the total floor area they occupy). rggraham1947

10:04pm Sun 24 Jun 12

maz;0) says...

darwen_celeb wrote:
Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market...

...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home.

I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.?
I would use the markets more, like I did years ago when you could buy meat, veg and bread. But now I dont want to buy material for making saris, cheap bog roll, and paper towels!! Also cheap and nasty sundries and ''designer'' clothes from Cheetham Hill wholesalers!!
[quote][p][bold]darwen_celeb[/bold] wrote: Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market... ...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home. I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.?[/p][/quote]I would use the markets more, like I did years ago when you could buy meat, veg and bread. But now I dont want to buy material for making saris, cheap bog roll, and paper towels!! Also cheap and nasty sundries and ''designer'' clothes from Cheetham Hill wholesalers!! maz;0)

2:27pm Mon 25 Jun 12

hunter3062 says...

maz;0) wrote:
darwen_celeb wrote:
Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market...

...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home.

I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.?
I would use the markets more, like I did years ago when you could buy meat, veg and bread. But now I dont want to buy material for making saris, cheap bog roll, and paper towels!! Also cheap and nasty sundries and ''designer'' clothes from Cheetham Hill wholesalers!!
markets are a thing of the past. high rents mean higher priced goods.and why do councils bring in foreign markets each year? cant understand the buggers trading now the other 50 weeks.if i want cheap tat i go to the 99p store.local town centre shops and markets suffered when they allowed superstores in to towns rather than on the outskirts.
[quote][p][bold]maz;0)[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]darwen_celeb[/bold] wrote: Market towns have suffered from supermarkets, which are ever popular because they are convenient... shoppers drive up, park in one of an abundance of free parking spaces and then wheel a trolley around and fill it with everything and anything you need. Traditional markets opperated by councils don't take this into consideration. Instead they make ridiculous one way systems, over charge for parking and them charge too much to stall holders so there is little you actually want in the market... ...is this idea so obvious it's stupid, or is it an easy way to breathe life into markets: make them more like supermarkets? In Darwen I think it would be good to free up the carparks for people who just use the market, give the traders somewhere else to park offsite, then introduce trollies so that you can go to the butchers stall, to the grocers stall, to the cooked meat stall and so on, filling up your trolly with a big shop, then you wheel it to the boot of your car and take it home. I would use the market more, if this was the retail experience on offer. It might be worth a try, before they are gone for good.?[/p][/quote]I would use the markets more, like I did years ago when you could buy meat, veg and bread. But now I dont want to buy material for making saris, cheap bog roll, and paper towels!! Also cheap and nasty sundries and ''designer'' clothes from Cheetham Hill wholesalers!![/p][/quote]markets are a thing of the past. high rents mean higher priced goods.and why do councils bring in foreign markets each year? cant understand the buggers trading now the other 50 weeks.if i want cheap tat i go to the 99p store.local town centre shops and markets suffered when they allowed superstores in to towns rather than on the outskirts. hunter3062

3:45pm Mon 25 Jun 12

Venomp says...

Councils get backhand dosh from companies like Tesco asda etc
Councils get backhand dosh from companies like Tesco asda etc Venomp

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