Your fantasy high street - just for fun

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dickp
Posts: 567
Joined: 7 Jan 2005 14:39
Location: Cardiff

Your fantasy high street - just for fun

Post by dickp »

Just for fun, folks - and firmly tounge in cheek :wink:

a) An identikit high street, full of chain stores
b) Keep it as it is, tatty pound shops and all
c) overprice boutiques, selling stuff you’ll never need
dickp
Posts: 567
Joined: 7 Jan 2005 14:39
Location: Cardiff

Post by dickp »

*votes "A", repeatedly*

I'd start modest, perhaps with a WH Smith.
georgemichael
Posts: 51
Joined: 28 Aug 2007 20:15
Location: sydenham

Post by georgemichael »

Well that'll be bad news for Kirkdale Books and The Stationery Box.
2 independent traders killed off in one go.

Purely tongue in cheek.....
The Eagle
Posts: 314
Joined: 18 Feb 2006 06:19
Location: Sydenham

Post by The Eagle »

..........and The Post Office :roll:
dickp
Posts: 567
Joined: 7 Jan 2005 14:39
Location: Cardiff

Post by dickp »

georgemichael - yes, that's right. We are a free market capitalist country where no shop has a "right" to a exist on the face of competition and economies of scale - hence my vote for A.

The Eagle..no. Because it's a chain and a alreay there, the Post Office would fit in either A or B.

Anyway, a new rule. If you're going to comment, you have to vote first. When push comes to shove, what would you like to see - a, b or c?
Annie
Posts: 1187
Joined: 13 May 2006 11:08
Location: Sydenham

Post by Annie »

:D A :D
nork1
Posts: 287
Joined: 9 Jul 2006 12:49
Location: Banned myself - can't be bothered with the Greg/Ulysses show anymore

Post by nork1 »

I vote:

a) An identikit high street, full of chainsaws.

You just never know when you're going to need one. I keep losing mine and is there anywhere local that sells them? No there bloody isn't. :evil:
bigbadwolf
Posts: 726
Joined: 7 Jan 2008 21:21
Location: Forest Hill and Sydenham

fantasy high street

Post by bigbadwolf »

you call that a fantasy high st?

Spearment rhino or decent strip club. For the boys.

Harvey nichols with perfume floor. For the girls or any lads on the other bus.

Nando's.

24 hour off-license.

Casino.

Bowling alley.

And last but not least THE GREYHOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Juwlz
Posts: 749
Joined: 26 Oct 2005 20:49
Location: Outer Sydenham

Post by Juwlz »

I vote 'C'

I like to know that stuff I can't afford and will never need is there just in case I ever need it or can afford it. Everyone needs something to aspire to. :wink:
leenewham
Posts: 5886
Joined: 2 Sep 2007 11:58
Location: SYDENHAM
Contact:

Post by leenewham »

How about:

D: A range of shops including boutiques, deli's, a pound shop, Sema, a handful of chains, pizza express, an old fashioned sweet shop, a cd shop. Infact.

I.e shops for everyone.

Because frankly A, B and C suck...on any high street and I don't see anyone asking for A, B or C.

But of course this is just for fun. Anyone reading this who may be thinking of investing in the area with a shop or business venture will look at the other posts on tis topic...won't they?
tulse hill terry
Posts: 686
Joined: 25 Jun 2007 01:33
Location: sarf lunnen

Post by tulse hill terry »

Anyone reading this who may be thinking of investing in the area with a shop or business venture will look at the other posts on tis topic...won't they?
S'got me wondering, how well read is this forum by residents, and those with interests in the area.

Very few I have spoken to have either heard, or recently read the forum, and presumably only a fraction of the readership actually post.

Does the budget run to a bit of advertising, I wonder? Any ideas?
El Syd
Posts: 5
Joined: 28 Jan 2008 16:57
Location: Sydenham

Post by El Syd »

The comment about "shops for everyone" is interesting, if diplomatic. Whilst I for one would love to see the High St spruced up and attract better quality shops and restaurants in the way many have described at length, the fact is that Sydenham is ethnically and socially diverse. The pound shops, Lidl, fast food chicken, greasy spoons, cheap clothes and similar outlets exist because there is a demand for them. Most people wanting to see improvements to the area have a middle-class, house-price sensitive viewpoint. I wonder what the owners and patrons of the pound shops et al make of all this debate? Is the desire to drive them from the area to be replaced by Waitrose and M&S tantamount to ethnic cleansing?
leenewham
Posts: 5886
Joined: 2 Sep 2007 11:58
Location: SYDENHAM
Contact:

Post by leenewham »

Shops don't have to look shabby, even if they are a pound shop.

I really don't think there is any excuse for that.
nork1
Posts: 287
Joined: 9 Jul 2006 12:49
Location: Banned myself - can't be bothered with the Greg/Ulysses show anymore

Post by nork1 »

El Syd wrote: Most people wanting to see improvements to the area have a middle-class, house-price sensitive viewpoint. I wonder what the owners and patrons of the pound shops et al make of all this debate? Is the desire to drive them from the area to be replaced by Waitrose and M&S tantamount to ethnic cleansing?
Heh heh!! prepare for incoming! :lol:
Jules
Posts: 146
Joined: 19 Sep 2006 09:14
Location: sydenham

Post by Jules »

There have been lots of posts regarding the 'state' of our high street, and the amount of pound shops ect. But there is obviously a call for them, otherwise they wouldn't thrive. What concerns me more is that people aim their frustrations towards the brave souls who plough their hard earn cash into opening their own business, I'd never have the courage to do this and I wish them all the best. I'd much rather see a row of shops that I may never use, then go back to the days when so many of our shops where boarded up and empty.
As for the shabby look most of them apparently have the worse shop in my opinion is Boots. It is badly in need of a real make over outside and in. So if anyone wants to start a clean up our high street campaign, maybe they ought to start there. At least Boots are in a position to spend money on their appearance.
Leave the small business man alone to earn a living and get the large chain shops to tidy up their act first.
biffa
Posts: 30
Joined: 25 Apr 2005 14:50
Location: sydenham

Post by biffa »

El Syd wrote: Is the desire to drive them from the area to be replaced by Waitrose and M&S tantamount to ethnic cleansing?
no its not ..its not for people to concern themselves with what race of people run shops ..we are all in Britain ..but what we should do is not ponce sydenham up to the point is causes tensions within the community
DigitalFX

Shops

Post by DigitalFX »

I totally agree with Jules on this one.....

What I cannot stand is people who have not lived in Sydenahm very long trying to turn our high street into something that's it's not and will never be.

I am sure that we would all like the shops in the high street improved a little, but I am proud to say that I use the pound shops they come in very handy and they always seem to find what you want. It is hard running a small business as I can speak from experience, so I take my hat off to them.

For thoes of you that remember the shops in the 80s well, I would love to see some of the old business back again, but sadly this will not happen. Sydenham will contine to change as the world and people change with it. Sometimes you just have to move along with it too.

Gaz
poppy
Posts: 574
Joined: 1 Sep 2007 20:03
Location: Sydenham

fantasy high street

Post by poppy »

Blimey. I thought this was supposed to be a joke thread! So I don't know why people are taking all this so seriously, again. It is called 'your fantasy high street'! I agree that it is getting a bit boring. While we are at though, I might as well say what I think, again. As it is so frustrating reading these 'we fear change' posts....

The thing I am hoping will have the biggest impact is the regen money.
Sorting out those appalling crossings, the mismatched messy street furniture (hopefully all green or black not the cheap blue), clearing the clutter, more coherent, tasteful paving (no red brick please) and greening up the high street will make it a more pleasant place to shop for everyone. I use it regularly, and have said we need to support local businesses before on other threads.

Thankfully, people who can instigate change are starting to think about the pedestrian again. Not all of us want to drive to the Save Centre or Bromley every time we want to do some shopping! But the way the high street looks at the moment is putting off local people from shopping there never mind people from elsewhere.

Also Gaz, we know Sydenham is changing! A younger 'professional class' is moving in and this has been reflected by the Dolphin, BM and Sugarhill opening up in less than 12 months! You have to accept that. There are lots of people who live here who want that sort of experience too you know! Many of them use this forum!
El Syd
Posts: 5
Joined: 28 Jan 2008 16:57
Location: Sydenham

Post by El Syd »

OK I guess what we need now is for the existing retailers, whatever they sell, to show some support and real commitment for the regeneration scheme by sprucing up their shopfronts where needed. That way the town centre upgrade will be in harmony with the shops who will undoubtedly benefit from more pedestrian-friendly streets. It would be well-received if retailers expressed such commitment to action in public esp at the forthcoming meeting in March. Ultimately the direction Sydenham is going in may be revealed by the type of new shops/cafes/restaurants that may choose to set up here. We shall have to wait and see.
DigitalFX

Sydenham

Post by DigitalFX »

In reply to Poppy,

I agree with you for once....and I am pleased to see many changes in the high street and all for the good. I drink in the Dolphin, and eat in the Sugar hill so all is good. (not a big fan of the BM but that's just me) ha

Not knowing how long you have lived in Sydenahm Poppy I just remember the old shops in the hight street when the keepers did used to take pride in how the street looked and most, not all ensured that the shop fronts looked clean and tidy and there was a great community fill to the street.

I do feel that we have lost some of that and would very much love to see it return and I am confident that over time we will get there.

Yes Sydenahm does have more of a younger pull to it, my god I'm only 34 so not passed it yet lol and I'm sure that many new business will appear over time. Sydenahm has always been my home as it has to most of my family going back generations who worked and lived in the high street.

So yes, all for change if it improves the look and feel of the street but get very dissapointed when some shops don't take pride in how they look which I agree again does not make Sydenham look that great.

Gaz
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