I noticed this afternoon that Dorothy Perkins have pulled out of Northbrook Street in favour of the Retail Park.

Quoted from Archie

I noticed this afternoon that Dorothy Perkins have pulled out of Northbrook Street in favour of the Retail Park.

The only hope for the town centre is that these major retailers want to take space in the new Parkway development and leave the retail parks for the carpet, white goods and diy shops. Whatever happens, parking is the key and it is why all the shoppers head towards them, the parking is easy and best of all, it's free so if you want to pop in for a single purchase then there is no doubt who wins. It's even a struggle trying to get parked to visit Barry Forkin these days.

Quoted from brian

...the parking is easy

No it's not, it horrible! There are queues to get in and out, the lanes are really narrow so cars often have to stop while cars coming the opposite way are on the wrong side of the road or turning, and people seem to drive wherever the hell they want. I avoid the place unless I can walk there, and many of the people that I know that do shop there typically park in either the Pizza Hut car park, or Tesco, and walk across. Try getting in or out of the place after 3pm at the weekend and you'll often be faced with queues that rival the Wharf!

Quoted from brian

Whatever happens, parking is the key and it is why all the shoppers head towards them, the parking is easy and best of all, it's free so. It's even a struggle trying to get parked to visit Barry Forkin these days.

You obviously don't 'pop' up to the retail park at the weekend.

Quoted from massifheed

No it's not, it horrible! There are queues to get in and out, the lanes are really narrow so cars often have to stop while cars coming the opposite way are on the wrong side of the road or turning, and people seem to drive wherever the hell they want. I avoid the place unless I can walk there, and many of the people that I know that do shop there typically park in either the Pizza Hut car park, or Tesco, and walk across. Try getting in or out of the place after 3pm at the weekend and you'll often be faced with queues that rival the Wharf!

Especially as many of the shops stay open later than the ones in the town centre, it is rarely a problem parking there (which is free at the point of use), when I go.

Isn't the answer to all the parking problems to put decent, reasonably priced, public transport on?  If we had buses that charged sensible prices, Newbury Buses charges £1.50 for three stops, you can go from one side of Birmingham to the other for 32p;  travelled to where people needed to go, there is no bus service along Hambridge Road, but this is one of the biggest travel to work areas in Newbury;  had a sensible time table, Newbury Buses don't start until 7.00am and most cease at 6.30. more people would use then lessening the congestion on the car parks and the roads.    

Quoted from 78

You obviously don't 'pop' up to the retail park at the weekend.

You are correct, the only pop up that I would consider at the weekend might be Homebase, most other items like washing machines and TVs I would leave until a more sensible time. If perchance I need a Diy item and it is not in my shed I would go to Screwfix or B&Q. Since the latter installed self checkouts, the getting out has been really good. I don't rate Homebase anyway.

Quoted from massifheed

No it's not, it horrible! There are queues to get in and out, the lanes are really narrow so cars often have to stop while cars coming the opposite way are on the wrong side of the road or turning, and people seem to drive wherever the hell they want. I avoid the place unless I can walk there, and many of the people that I know that do shop there typically park in either the Pizza Hut car park, or Tesco, and walk across. Try getting in or out of the place after 3pm at the weekend and you'll often be faced with queues that rival the Wharf!

Tip! if you need to puchase from Argos or Currys, they have a reservation system so research from their website, reserve, and collect from the store after 7pm, havent tried homebase but they may do the same

Quoted from old codger

Tip! if you need to puchase from Argos or Currys, they have a reservation system so research from their website, reserve, and collect from the store after 7pm, havent tried homebase but they may do the same

Yea like I'm going to reserve a packet of screws on line....

Quoted from jay

Isn't the answer to all the parking problems to put decent, reasonably priced, public transport on?  If we had buses that charged sensible prices, Newbury Buses charges £1.50 for three stops, you can go from one side of Birmingham to the other for 32p;  travelled to where people needed to go, there is no bus service along Hambridge Road, but this is one of the biggest travel to work areas in Newbury;  had a sensible time table, Newbury Buses don't start until 7.00am and most cease at 6.30. more people would use then lessening the congestion on the car parks and the roads.    

Well put, even though you'd never get me on a bus. Dreadful things....but it's interesting that several council surveys show that congestion is the Number 1 issue for people in Newbury, and yet the only trick they have is gimmicks like those 'next bus in 17 hours' signs.

Outsourcing bus provision to Reading Council hasn't worked, and there's an OFT inspection into anti-competitive practices. Perfect time to start afresh (as long as it's not subsidised).

Quoted from Meddler

Outsourcing bus provision to Reading Council hasn't worked, and there's an OFT inspection into anti-competitive practices. Perfect time to start afresh (as long as it's not subsidised).

There is no way that we will get bus transport at a low enough price to attract people to use it without a subsidy. Perhaps it would be able to operate without a subsidy once it is running and very popular, but I doubt there would ever be enough investement in it to provide the level of service that would really persuade folk not to drive.

Quoted from blackdog

There is no way that we will get bus transport at a low enough price to attract people to use it without a subsidy. Perhaps it would be able to operate without a subsidy once it is running and very popular, but I doubt there would ever be enough investement in it to provide the level of service that would really persuade folk not to drive.

Why can't the congestion charge and the green tax levied on supposed gas guzzlers be used to subsidise?  Unsure if London Transport is subsidised but the tube and buses are always full.

Quoted from brian

Yea like I'm going to reserve a packet of screws on line....

OK, I thought we were discussing making journeys for larger products, B & Q v Homebase? for small necessities, depends where one lives, from I where I reside one is a 5 mile round trip, the other about half a mile, could get on my bike for the longer one I suppose but there's the time factor and bound to be raining..........

Quoted from jay

Unsure if London Transport is subsidised but the tube and buses are always full.

It's to do with the number of people who want to travel and the convenience of the London Transport system which in truth is only workable in a big city environment. Ken, when he was mayor did subsidise the transport system, much to the irritation of the ratepayers who felt that they were supporting tourists and commuters without a payback to cover the costs.

Quote from Brian

. Ken, when he was mayor did subsidise ...


My mate Ken!!!