Hi all
I own a business in Frankwell selling TV's and sound systems and have become somewhat worn down by the continual 'anti car' measures that seems to be gathering momentum in Shrewsbury.
It would seem that there is no particular forethought as to what will become of the town centre, when eventually no cars are allowed in. The centre used to provide a great cross section of both small independant stores and multi national outlets, providing a reasonable choice of goods in a vibrant and attractive setting. I walked through town yesterday and noted at least 15-20 stores either empty, to let, or charity shops.
The powers that be, seem content to drive all traffic to the retail parks, with the ensuing snarl ups but hey...lets keep the grotty Park and Ride buses pumping out tons of obnoxious fumes. With the sale of Rowleys car park, the situation, coupled with the frenzied activites of Park 'Right' staff, can only get worse. Rents are soaring as well as rates and utility bills, so expect to see more closures over the coming months.
Sorry about the gloomy entry but its really up to local people to try and use the local stores. When they close, then there is no choice!

You know, for as long as I can remember there have been empty units in the town centre, and for as long as I can remember there have been complainers about the supposed "problem". If any shops close in the next year or so it's most likely due to the economic downturn caused by excessive consumer spending and debt over the past 10 years or so. And let them build on Barker Street car park... and all the other tarmac seas in the town centre. I'd rather have buildings there than the present lake of cars, cars, cars...

God, I do love a rant every now and again. :rolleyes:

I'm waiting with great anticipation PS to see another Julian Friars like new development in Barker Street.
Instead of Romaldston or what ever the new disney world planned there is to be called we could call it mediocretown.
I loathe to see a sea of cars but at least it is honest.

The Julian Friars houses chimneys (those that have them as we can live without open fires now even in quaint old Shrewsbury !) are made of polystyrene. :D

The St Julian's Friars development is shockingly bad and I hope to see it replaced at some time during my lifetime - which is possible, considering the rubbish built in the 60s and 70s around the country is now being replaced.

We will see a far better (higher quality, etc) development at Barker Street, don't worry. A good recent example of good quality build in the town centre is Chapel Gate on St John's Hill.

Is Chapel Gate on St John's Hill the one next to the church conversion?
If so then I have looked around it and I thought it was pretty grim. Mind you, the Victorians were good at sham ie: stuff looking good on the outside but on closer inspection... Some of the corridors inside one flat had no natural light at all!

A lot of 60s 70s architecture was good actually, what isn't tends to go, as have many Victorian jerry built houses.

The more rubbish eras are the 80s onwards and now if councils are unenlightened with regard to new housing which sadly Shrewsbury is. :(

I starting writing this post and then rushed out to the talk by Louis Hellman the cartoonist for the AJ magazine which was at the Lion Hotel. You should have been there PS his cartoons are very sharp and witty all about architects, planners and politics of course. ;)

I'm at the moment in Manchester!

Bit of a walk to the Lion Hotel then! :lol:

Yes, quite. I'll be in Shrewsbury next weekend.

you should open some chat rooms on here :blink: some sway right off the subject

Some people know how to be civil Andy.

Most of the time this has been a friendly forum.

It was a suggestion Lemon! Gosh youre so sensitive! I would say some people could also be devious too :)