Not sure. I guess if you're the kind of person that loves charity shops then this is good news, but if you can't stand them then the idea of more isn't going to make your day. Personally, I think it's better to have a shop unit let, than be left empty (although I'm not sure if that sentiment extends to the "tat" shops we seem to attract occasionally).
I do like the idea that some other towns have had, of using empty units to display things with a local connection - works by a local artist, displays by local schools etc.
I do like the idea that some other towns have had, of using empty units to display things with a local connection - works by a local artist, displays by local schools etc.
Not in Cartergrad. A couple of years ago, a local group I was involved with considered using an empty unit in the Kennet Centre for a mental health/wellbeing related display. Voluntary organisation, running voluntary campaign here. Not 2 pennies to rub together. But were told no.... £40/day for a dusty corner as a bare minimum.
There is nothing inherently wrong with charity shops as such.
However, they don't pay busniess rates. If and when WBC get to keep the business rates they collect this will mean that council tax payers are subsidising them, I guess all tax payers are sharing the fairly minimal burden at present.
They are also generally considered an indicator of a poorly performing shopping area - in boom times owners will rather have better paying tenants, the more charity shops there are the bigger the indication that the area is struggling. Most retail areas are struggling at present so a couple more charity shops is not a huge surprise.
What's wrong with a charity shops ? We are a wasteful society, and it's shocking what people throw away ! I like to think of it as recycling for a good cause
Not in Cartergrad. A couple of years ago, a local group I was involved with considered using an empty unit in the Kennet Centre for a mental health/wellbeing related display. Voluntary organisation, running voluntary campaign here. Not 2 pennies to rub together. But were told no.... £40/day for a dusty corner as a bare minimum.
What has WBC got to do with what the Kennet Centre charges for space?
Point is. It does not matter if WBC or anybody else may think it's a good idea to display things with a local connection in unused units. Because who ever owns the vacant units will either have to had a recent visit from 3 ghosts or they simply won't care unless the local connection has deep pockets to pay their rates.
Hold on councillor: Cartergrad is an alias for Newbury, not the council.
I think he may have a point....perhaps this clarifies things.
Cartergrad [n]: "kɑrtərgræd" - colloquial term for Soviet-style central planning, commonly used among online communities in Newbury. Derives from parody of the Supreme Leader's surname, and infers that the 21st century redevelopment of the Berkshire town is akin to the grey dreary cities of the Eastern bloc; also Carterism the capture of a democratic system by self-interested individuals and bureaucrats who benefit from a regime's largesse.
Isn't the epithet supposed to imply that the town is run by certain members of the local council, for their benefit & theirs alone?
I hadn't thought of this but on reflection you're absolutely right!
I've been told that the council leader owns a chemist's shop in Lambourn. Can this be true? Is so, how can such a possible conflict of interests be allowed to exist?
Surely someone in Mr Jones' position will do everything in his power to run Newbury into the ground so that people Lambourn have no choice but to use his shop. I think we can now see why WBC was so keen to pursue the Parkway 'development'.
I'd also like to know how much taxpayer's money - in the form of NHS funding - ends up in Mr Jones pocket. Does anyone know?
No idea. If they all sail through does that not imply that there is a planning free-for-all? Hardly a few acting for their own interests.
I guess he meant a planning application put through by WBC or for one of their favoured developments. You and I must take our turn in the queue. The better question would be how many planning decisions (recommendations) made by the planning officers have been overturned by the planning committee.
I guess he meant a planning application put through by WBC or for one of their favoured developments. You and I must take our turn in the queue. The better question would be how many planning decisions (recommendations) made by the planning officers have been overturned by the planning committee.
I'd expect it to be none. Rather a waste of tax payers money if one part of WBC submits planning applications only for them to to refused by another.
I can just imagine the comments on here should it happen.
You tell me. Personally I think the idea is absurd.
More paradox than absurdity, but it could be both. Let me explain.
Trying to compete with Reading, Swindon and Basingstoke is absurd. Draining our park and then trying to build Noah's Ark on it is more of a paradox.
Recent supermarket expansion in Newbury is thought to have taken 50% of spending out of the town centre: so building more town centre shops becomes idiotic rather than paradoxical.
A group of people from Compton, Pangbourne, Cricklade, Highclere or Wantage deciding they know what's best for Newbury is odd, but not in itself absurd (or unique to our town). It only becomes absurd when they ignore local opinion.
Building more town centre shops idiotic? Must be that the rapidly filling Parkway site is just the last act of desperate national retailers. But if you will do all your shopping in Tesco, what do you expect? You reap what you sow. Consumers & shoppers have no-one to blame but themselves if the high street & town centre dies.
Ignore local opinion? Local opinion being what exactly?
I try to keep to Newbury topics, but a large part of my present home has changed as well. Camden Passage. was to be demolished in the 60s A street dating back centuries. It became, after an outcry, a fairly popular antique market. And then when brown furniture was out of fashion became moribund. Shops only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays....often by appointment.
Council put the rents up. Bingo.The little group of shops have changed hands. The street is buzzing every day. I was sad to see shops I had passed for years but never purchased from close. But it is better for the change. I certainly respect the folk in the past who stopped the demolishing.Most have now passed on!. ce
I'd expect it to be none. Rather a waste of tax payers money if one part of WBC submits planning applications only for them to to refused by another.
The point is that no amount of objections will make a difference. We'll see if Victoria Park ends up getting developed. There can be no doubt that the local populace are against the idea.
The point is that no amount of objections will make a difference. We'll see if Victoria Park ends up getting developed. There can be no doubt that the local populace are against the idea.
I'd say that there are factions against & for, with the large majority indifferent.
Northcroft Park was put to good use last weekend & very popular it was too......
Building more town centre shops idiotic? Must be that the rapidly filling Parkway site is just the last act of desperate national retailers. But if you will do all your shopping in Tesco, what do you expect? You reap what you sow. Consumers & shoppers have no-one to blame but themselves if the high street & town centre dies.
A bit of a false economy if it's filling up with Costa, Debenhams, Barclays, Jones the Bootmaker, New Look, Fat Face....but getting back on topic, maybe that's why the charity shops are queuing up.
A bit of a false economy if it's filling up with Costa, Debenhams, Barclays, Jones the Bootmaker, New Look, Fat Face....but getting back on topic, maybe that's why the charity shops are queuing up.
And what about the others, you know the shops new to town that have only come to town because of Parkway.
But, talking of charity shops, maybe we'll get an Oxfam bookshop.
And what about the others, you know the shops new to town that have only come to town because of Parkway.
But, talking of charity shops, maybe we'll get an Oxfam bookshop.
Books are largely bought online these days, so there's a good chance. BTW - I'm not hoping Parkway will fail, no matter how much the whole jiggery-pokery mess has emerged. Now, I simply don't know if we're prepared for the knock-on changes it will bring.
Books are largely bought online these days, so there's a good chance. BTW - I'm not hoping Parkway will fail, no matter how much the whole jiggery-pokery mess has emerged. Now, I simply don't know if we're prepared for the knock-on changes it will bring.
And is a success a deserted KC and abandoned Northbrook Street?
And if I was a councillor with a vested interest I would declare it on here.
And is a success a deserted KC and abandoned Northbrook Street?
And if I was a councillor with a vested interest I would declare it on here.
The KC has only once, and for only a a three month period, been fully let in its entire existence. Strange it could never attract the kind of shops were are now seeing come to Newbury at Parkway.
I'd expect it to be none. Rather a waste of tax payers money if one part of WBC submits planning applications only for them to to refused by another.
I can just imagine the comments on here should it happen.
You have got the wrong end of the stick! It has nothing to do with the council applying for planning permission.
Most planning applications are dealt with by planning officers with no reference to any planning committee. Only if the application is big or is generating a lot of objections, or a councillor demands it, is an application ever brought before the relevant committee. Cases that do get to a planning committee meeting come with recommendations from the planning officers - either recommending they pass the plans or reject them, together with the basic rationalle behind the recommendation.
Generally speaking the committee goes along with the recommendations - occasionally they don't. I think a recent case was the flats on the old Travis-Perkins site and that the committee rejected the plans despite the planning officers recommending acceptance.
You have got the wrong end of the stick! It has nothing to do with the council applying for planning permission.
Most planning applications are dealt with by planning officers with no reference to any planning committee. Only if the application is big or is generating a lot of objections, or a councillor demands it, is an application ever brought before the relevant committee. Cases that do get to a planning committee meeting come with recommendations from the planning officers - either recommending they pass the plans or reject them, together with the basic rationalle behind the recommendation.
Generally speaking the committee goes along with the recommendations - occasionally they don't. I think a recent case was the flats on the old Travis-Perkins site and that the committee rejected the plans despite the planning officers recommending acceptance.
methinks you have - niceguyeddie made a comment about WBC planning applications never being refused - ie projects that WBC are funding / driving / want never get refused planning. Hence my comment.
So? From what I saw at the weekend, Victoria Park was so busy it couldn't have accommodated the carnival. On the other hand north croft is rarely busy and could easily accommodate a pavilion, so why not put it there..... Oh wait, it's not in the plan of those that don't even live here.
methinks you have - niceguyeddie made a comment about WBC planning applications never being refused - ie projects that WBC are funding / driving / want never get refused planning. Hence my comment.
No he/she was commenting in response to Brian's more general question:
I guess he meant a planning application put through by WBC or for one of their favoured developments. You and I must take our turn in the queue. The better question would be how many planning decisions (recommendations) made by the planning officers have been overturned by the planning committee.
Logged
Male
Female
Do you know I first read that as knickers !
