Empty Shops

[Duke Fame]

I don't 'get' Primark Duke but it's an obvious vote of confidence from a major retailer and if that's what the majority want, then that's what they get.  Primark and H+M also moved into premises left by an out of date department store and an American style book retailer.  If customers didn't engage with those businesses models, it's neither fair nor unfair! There are countless independent shops and businesses thriving throughout the borough and those that fail are often ill conceived or unviable..you seem like a free market kind of guy to me, isn't that just the market at work?  You almost seem to be suggesting state protectionism or propping up of failing businesses via artificially low rates?

Re the changes to council tax etc...I wouldn't hold your breath for the Lib Dems to do anything as ridiculous as honour a policy.  Of course, if the money lost to 'tax avoidance' schemes by businesses was paid to the exchequer, it could have a real impact on public finances.  I fear, if we move to a tax/profit based income stream, we'll end up with 'tax avoidance' specialists, KPMG, Ernst and Young etc, setting up offices on every high street!  That may be the answer to the empty office space!

Local authorities are always an easy target if you single out an area of performance but Manchester, which has some of the most deprived wards in the country, seems to be doing well..there's certainly plenty of independent retailers if we are using that as a yardstick!

As we're getting slightly off-topic, I've started a new thread, would you post on there and I can tell you why you are wrong.

[Steptoe and Son]

I don't 'get' Primark Duke but it's an obvious vote of confidence from a major retailer and if that's what the majority want, then that's what they get.  Primark and H+M also moved into premises left by an out of date department store and an American style book retailer.  If customers didn't engage with those businesses models, it's neither fair nor unfair! There are countless independent shops and businesses thriving throughout the borough and those that fail are often ill conceived or unviable..you seem like a free market kind of guy to me, isn't that just the market at work?  You almost seem to be suggesting state protectionism or propping up of failing businesses via artificially low rates?

Re the changes to council tax etc...I wouldn't hold your breath for the Lib Dems to do anything as ridiculous as honour a policy.  Of course, if the money lost to 'tax avoidance' schemes by businesses was paid to the exchequer, it could have a real impact on public finances.  I fear, if we move to a tax/profit based income stream, we'll end up with 'tax avoidance' specialists, KPMG, Ernst and Young etc, setting up offices on every high street!  That may be the answer to the empty office space!

Local authorities are always an easy target if you single out an area of performance but Manchester, which has some of the most deprived wards in the country, seems to be doing well..there's certainly plenty of independent retailers if we are using that as a yardstick!

[Cyberman]

I know it's slightly off-topic but I went to Stockport recently (passing on way home from work) intending to look in at the electronics shops on Hillgate. The minimum charge for on-street parking there is 90p! I didn't bother stopping. Last time I visited Hillgate the charge was 40p I think - just about acceptable. But 90p - no wonder people don't shop there.

I'm sure someone at Stockport Council got a large backhander when Tesco was built (made a mistake on your planning application...   made the store too big...  no problem mate, you just carry on). Perhaps shutting the local shops is part of the deal with Tesco.

[Duke Fame]

Take it easy Duke - SMBC may not be perfect (which of us are?), but they are tackling the problems which they face as best they can - and it ain't easy!

The new Fred Perry building is intended to replace a number of existing offices.  I understand that some of these are owned by the council, whilst others are leased.  I am not privy to what is being done with the vacant premises, but I should be surprised if our cash-strapped council doesn't get rid of them asap! 

See http://iainroberts.mycouncillor.org.uk/2010/11/19/royal-opening-for-stockports-fred-perry-house/

If you feel so strongly about how badly our council is run, why don't you stand at the next election and show us all how it can be done better?

I know Iain, quite  a good guy.

As far as waste is concerned, SMBC isn't as bad as others. Manchester City council is now the biggest commercial landlord in the city and had (the last time I looked) more empty commercial property than any local authority. Town clerks should not be playing at property development.

My biggest gripe with local councils is the funding which needs central govt action & the Lib Dems should push on with th eissue as it's their polict. Council tax should be replaced with a lpoll tax as alocal income tax set at around 3%, council tax is outdated and unfair. Business rates, likewise should be a tax on net profit like a local corporation tax, that way the local authority has an interest in it's local businesses being profitable.

[Dave]

Take it easy Duke - SMBC may not be perfect (which of us are?), but they are tackling the problems which they face as best they can - and it ain't easy!

The new Fred Perry building is intended to replace a number of existing offices.  I understand that some of these are owned by the council, whilst others are leased.  I am not privy to what is being done with the vacant premises, but I should be surprised if our cash-strapped council doesn't get rid of them asap! 

See http://iainroberts.mycouncillor.org.uk/2010/11/19/royal-opening-for-stockports-fred-perry-house/

If you feel so strongly about how badly our council is run, why don't you stand at the next election and show us all how it can be done better?

[Duke Fame]

Perhaps the private property developers miscalculated woefully and there is simply too much office space Duke?  In that case,  a free market surely wouldn't want the council propping up unsustainable businesses.  With the opening of H+M and Primark, I hardly think Stockport is becoming a ghost town either.

Well, if your example of success is seeing an existing retailer give up and ship out to be replaced by a couple of identikit - as seen in every other town cut price, exploititive, homogenous high street dour store, Great, Primark have arrived. As yet another small independant shop is calling it a day or has the council balifs at the door enforcing the councils ridiculous business rates on them.

Walk along hillgate, the market area, the only interesting area of Stockport is a ghost town. THe precinct even has a load of empty shops and becoming a ghost town.

It's not just Stockport but the council's taxing & spending must stop otherwise we'll all be recycling officers hoping someone overfills his / her bin one day.

[Duke Fame]

I see stockport council has extended it's offices at great expense. Why are they expanding?

I assume you mean the new Fred Perry House.  See http://www.stockport.gov.uk/newsroom/fredperryhouse

This much-heralded new eco-building has been in the pipeline for years (long before the present wave of expenditure cuts).  As far as I know, it will replace several existing offices in other buildings, and will be both cheaper to run and more environmentally sustainable.  What's wrong with any of that? 

Well at least they got a sponsor to keep the cost down.


What's wrong with it? It cost £12m of our money. We could have had a reduction in our council tax instead but no, the council wanted a headline.

If you are running a business and you had sufficient office space, would you go & spend £12m on a new office without any need to do so? No, of course you will not. If you are a council clerk, and selfishly know that the idiots who pay your wages will be fleeced some more for an ugly extension, it seems OK to go ahead an rip off the public.

Also, it's not as if they are recovering the money by selling the other buildings, they are  empty & redundant.

It amazes me that every business I’m involved it managed to reduce staff and improve efficiency with automation and computerisation. Stockport council employs more people today per resident than any time in it’s history. Either that reflects badly on the quality of the employee it employs or the management is clueless. Either way it’s inefficient, ineffective and uneconomic.

Of course, it doesn’t matter because it’s customer will have to pay regardless.

[Steptoe and Son]

Perhaps the private property developers miscalculated woefully and there is simply too much office space Duke?  In that case,  a free market surely wouldn't want the council propping up unsustainable businesses.  With the opening of H+M and Primark, I hardly think Stockport is becoming a ghost town either.

[Dave]

I see stockport council has extended it's offices at great expense. Why are they expanding?

I assume you mean the new Fred Perry House.  See http://www.stockport.gov.uk/newsroom/fredperryhouse

This much-heralded new eco-building has been in the pipeline for years (long before the present wave of expenditure cuts).  As far as I know, it will replace several existing offices in other buildings, and will be both cheaper to run and more environmentally sustainable.  What's wrong with any of that? 

[Duke Fame]

The Business Rate is set by the Government not the local council.

Quite right, rates are set to reflect council's spending needs. The last govt had business rates spiralling whilst local authorities spent like mad. I see stockport council has extended it's offices at great expense. Why are they expanding? They should be reducing staff, furthermore, the town is full of empty office space, it's becoming a ghost town surrounded by public sector offices whilst the real economy is choked by taxation.

[Steptoe and Son]

Not keen on the council Duke?

[Victor M]

The Business Rate is set by the Government not the local council.

[Duke Fame]

Found it quite depressing that the row of shops near the Somerfield (Co-op) garage seem to have all closed down recently, namely the boutique, second hand shop etc. What do you think would work there? High street is dull without independents, I've got my own ladieswear boutique, but I'm not sure Marple would take to our womenswear collections, although I do think that there is a gap for younger fashion in Marple? Retail is tough at present but there must be something that would work in these empty shops!

I think the council need to be realistic about business rates, they are using business as a cash cow and it's got out of control. I bet you find this in your business, I'm finding independant retailers are working nearly 2 months just to keep the local council in useless employees.

[amazon]

what sort of age range are you thinking for the younger people?

I think its difficult, if you are talking teenagers, from experiences of my own family, they are more likely to go into Stockport so they have a selection of shops, rather than just one .

I always thought a decent childrens shoe shop would work,(Clarks, startright, continental shoes etc )  but one of these opened on Market Street, it didnt last long .. but then again, stock was very limited , but even getting the franchise to sell these shoes I know costs alot of money

              Even more into stockport when PRIMARK opens later this year [coop stockport closes this sat just walked through this morning a lot of it empty floors now does seem strange but the cafe still open . for now .

[Cripes]

what sort of age range are you thinking for the younger people?

I think its difficult, if you are talking teenagers, from experiences of my own family, they are more likely to go into Stockport so they have a selection of shops, rather than just one .

I always thought a decent childrens shoe shop would work,(Clarks, startright, continental shoes etc )  but one of these opened on Market Street, it didnt last long .. but then again, stock was very limited , but even getting the franchise to sell these shoes I know costs alot of money

Not teenage young, late twenties plus, there doesn't seem to be anything in between the really young stuff and then the Helen Winterson & Yvonne Gillon collections which are aimed at 50+ I think?!  Isn't there a shoe shop in Marple Bridge now?