NEW LIFE FOR EMPTY SHOPS
BEDMINSTER has been awarded a share of a £1.2 million Government fund to help regenerate its ailing shopping streets.
The £100,000 handout will go towards bringing empty shops back into use in North Street, East Street and West Street, tackling anti-social behaviour and making the area more pedestrian- friendly.
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George Ferguson, George Grace, Ben Barker, Mark Bradshaw and Colin Smith celebrate Bedminster winning government funding to boost its shopping streets. Picture: Jon Kent
Street art and theatre could breathe new life into the shopping streets, with plans in place to spend some of the cash windfall on a permanent trail of 25 pieces of locally made art, a permanent outdoor theatre space and performances in "pop-up" temporary venues.
A bicycle rickshaw service could also be introduced, along with changes to car parking and making roads "shared spaces", where surfaces are changed and cars and pedestrians given equal priority.
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The scheme is one of 12 so-called Portas Pilots – named after shopping guru Mary Portas – to be included in a national scheme the government hopes will "kick-start a high street renaissance".
The Bedminster Town Team, the organisation behind the successful bid for the cash, will be offered support from local government minister Grant Shapps and Ms Portas, whose independent review into the state of Britain's high streets led to the fund being set up.
Earlier this year a report by retail analyst the Local Data Company claimed that almost one in every five shops in Bedminster was empty and predicted a bleak future for high streets, with shoppers' money increasingly going to out-of-town and online retailers.
The town team aims to turn things around and although the government cash would total £100,000 if split evenly between the winning schemes, more money could flow in from other sources, including up to £300,000 available from a planning deal if the Sainsbury's supermarket planned for Ashton Gate goes ahead.
Bedminster ward councillor Mark Bradshaw said: "This could be the breakthrough we are seeking to make a big difference on the ground."
Mr Bradshaw said those who wanted to see the area revived had to "think differently" to bring people in.
He said: "If we were to try to recreate West Street as it was in the 1930s or 40s, we are not going to be able to do that.
"This is about reinventing our shopping streets." Talks will now take place to see how the money the Bedminster Town Team receives can best be put to work.
City council leader Simon Cook said: "Bristol is well known for its vibrant high streets and thriving markets but it's important that we do all we can to support traders across the city who play a crucial role in our local economy.
"To be one of 12 areas chosen, out of 370 bids from across the country, is a real achievement and recognition of the strong case (the town team) made."
Bristol South MP Dawn Primarolo, whose constituency includes Bedminster, said: "I think this is fantastic news. It's really important that we do everything we can to try to invest in our high streets and encourage people to use local shops in their communities."
Comments
by shaun1964
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 6:56PM
“why is ferguson in the pic shifty lib dem , con dem etc etc etc .”
by Gambit72
Wednesday, May 30 2012, 10:10AM
“A decent slice of this funding should go to the Cannon St end of North Street where the traders are really battling against the odds. The Tobacco Factory end doesn't need the extra help.
The rickshaws idea is a gimmick. I don't like to bash enthusiasm but Bedminster needs a lot more than gimmicks.”
by Mrs_W2009
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 10:31PM
“A lot of the problem is the quality of the shops though. East st is full of amusement arcades and pawn shops. How will the money tackle that? They can't force them out.
Perhaps the council needs to give generous business tax allowances and rents to independent businesses to encourage them to set up.
And a compulsory purchase order for the gala bingo site would help!”
by PattersonG
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 1:09PM
“shaun1964
The celebrity trousers have been looking a bit old and faded recently. No reflection on the potential mayoral candidate I'm sure.....”
by shaun1964
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 12:35PM
“george ferguson could have least popped into the charity shop for some new trousers. plus 100k will not go far for all they want to do with it.”
by Joke_Bristol
Tuesday, May 29 2012, 10:52AM
“they should just give the £100,000 to Marks and Spencer and beg them to open a shop there. Watch the regeneration fly along then.”
by Kaptain_Von
Monday, May 28 2012, 10:51PM
“All the 'art' and rickshaws in the world will not encourage people to go to East St if there are no shops for them to go to in the first place. Sadly, nowadays the total of pawnbrokers, slot machine arcades, bookies, charity shops, cafes and empty premises outnumbers other retailers on East St. Approach the road from one end and the first things you see are an empty unit, a charity shop, a bookies, a budget off licence and a slot machine arcade. Approach from the other and it's the run down St Catherines precinct (two freezer food shops, a fruit and veg shop, a cafe and the largest junk shop in Bristol...sorry YMCA charity shop), a couple of pound shops, some empty premises and a pawnbroker. The rest of the street, with a few exceptions is going the same way.
Another part of the problem is that many of the shops themselves look scruffy and run down, not a great way of attracting custom if the customers first impression is negative. New street furniture installed in the last two years is already looking scruffy and painting it institution grey did not help.
North Street is a street of two parts, the upper part is not too bad with a good mix of traders but the lower half has declined massively over the years. I can personally remember when it was thriving but now it is characterised by a derelict bingo hall, a number of junk shops, premises that have stood empty for years and non-retail businesses not designed to attract shoppers.
As for West St? The decline started in the 50s and has carried on since. Barring a few premises it will never be a thriving shopping street again.
So, what will £100k do? Probably not a lot. There needs to be a much deeper and widespread approach. Address the underlying issues. Get the place cleaned up,take a good long look at the potential customer base (are elderly shoppers and mums with pushchairs likely to need rickshaws? Or are they more likely to need better seating, toilet/baby change facilities?), attract a diverse range of traders (not just coffee shops and cafes, the area has a surfeit of those already and some are not doing that well) selling affordable goods that people want and do something about the bingo hall.
There are a few traders who are trying really hard to make something of the area but allowing it to decline further does them a disservice.”
by Tim_M
Monday, May 28 2012, 9:57PM
“Some commenters don't seem to be aware that there is free parking available at a car park right at the corner of East Street and West Street.”
by Smarbles
Monday, May 28 2012, 6:44PM
“Here's a joke!
Q: I say I say I say, why is there no Grorge Fergusson bar in Lockleaze?
A: Because there'd be no profit in it!
Funny eh?”
by DockLobster
Monday, May 28 2012, 6:20PM
“Expect to see many more George Ferguson photo ops, with convenient added bicycle, over the next few months.
Just don't believe the hype...”