Youri McAnespie Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) It's impossible to sustain a 'town centre' that's traditional limits reached as far as Marsden Road/St George's Road Junction to Manny Road/Bolton College/Orlando Bridge - and all in between. It means the gems get hidden in the shite... The land use is shocking as well, instead of throwing up these carbuncles (apologies if you live in one) such as 'The Listing Ship' (Irwell Valley Apartments) or Forest Bank Part II (Marsden House) why didn't the Council encourage development (for residential use) of the empty floors above the commercial properties? All these shitty sites on the outskirts of town haven't helped, I'm sure a lot of the traders simply move on when any incentives expire. It seems to be one pops up, then dies as another one pops up - The latest to seemingly be in decline being the Sainsburys/Decathalon one. This is an artist's impression of my plan for the Redevelopment of our Town Centre, it incorporates a brick by brick, temporary removal of the Town Hall/Le Mans Crescent and part of Bradshawgate and Churchgate onto Queen's Park then... Preferably with Senor Morris in the Slim Pickens role, he could wave something other than a cowboy hat All those in favour, say Aye! Edited January 23, 2013 by Youri McAnespie Quote
Carlos Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 I blame Marsden House on all the buy to letters that filled their flats with scutters and now they are worth fuck all due to their own actions. Quote
Youri McAnespie Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 Somebody told me there's loads of apartments used solely as one-woman knocking shops... Quote
HomerJay Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 I go to Chorley for bits and bobs, the market isn't full of refugees & they have a Booths. Maybe because it's easier for me, I don't know, but it certainly doesn't feel as scutty. The Bolton M&S may be bigger than the Middlebrook one but I'm fucked if I'm paying to park on that underground carbuncle. Chorley centre is going through a mini revival A few new shops are popping but not sure how long they'll last. It's still not a busy place and there are many businesses up for sale there Quote
Youri McAnespie Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) Somebody told me there's loads of apartments used solely as one-woman knocking shops... AYE Got any buzzer numbers for them? Another thing that's struck me, what kind of tinpot town has a train station where there's no cash machine? Or that you can't get tickets bought online printed (unless they've got one now?) Edited January 23, 2013 by Youri McAnespie Quote
jayjayoghani Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 you're right BTC is far too big. it needs a local authority with radical ideas to get it decent again. if large areas are best knocked down, do it I wonder what they'll do with Moor Lane bus station. probably something totally lacking any imagination whatsoever, sold to the highest bidder without any thought what something else might kickstart i.e. a Tesco Quote
Carlos Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 Got any buzzer numbers for them? Another thing that's struck me, what kind of tinpot town has a train station where there's no cash machine? Or that you can't get tickets bought online printed (unless they've got one now?) You can print tickets out by putting your card in the machine in the corner. There's a cash machine on Sainsbury's and Morrissons. Someone I knew had a building off Moor Lane, behind the Albion. Tesco were sniffing round for years, I'd guess they are massive favourites for Moor Lane. Quote
Youri McAnespie Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 Moor Lane, it'll be a car park - pay and display of course...Free after 8pm on a Sunday, during Christmas 'Week' (any given week drawn at random between 30th November and 8th January). Quote
Carlos Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 The Cliff Morris Centre for Excellence. How long before he's an MBE or something for services to the local community? Quote
no balls Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 The Cliff Morris Centre for Excellence. How long before he's an MBE or something for services to the local community? I've a bucket of shit at the end of the garden fermenting ready for an event such as this. Cunt! Quote
Youri McAnespie Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) ...There's a cash machine on Sainsbury's and Morrissons. And if you're a visitor? Or you've just been dropped off outside the Station? Or you're disabled, or old, or you're with a pushchair, or it's covered in ice and snow etc. It's f*cking tinpot, piss poor shite to direct people over the road, or worse, the one near Morrisons. It makes us look shit from the moment of arrival. When they going to sort out the Church Redevelopment over the road an' all while we're at it? Edited January 23, 2013 by Youri McAnespie Quote
Winchester White Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 you're right BTC is far too big. it needs a local authority with radical ideas to get it decent again. if large areas are best knocked down, do it I wonder what they'll do with Moor Lane bus station. probably something totally lacking any imagination whatsoever, sold to the highest bidder without any thought what something else might kickstart i.e. a Tesco I agree, there will never be a need for a TC so big ever again so they are much better condensing it but the problem is, all the shops, banks, etc are at one end of town (Debenhams/M&S/MarketHall/parking) and the train/bus station at the other. Quote
enzo gambaro Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 And if you're a visitor? Or you've just been dropped off outside the Station? Or you're disabled, or old, or you're with a pushchair, or it's covered in ice and snow etc. It's f*cking tinpot, piss poor shite to direct people over the road, or worse, the one near Morrisons. It makes us look shit from the moment of arrival. When they going to sort out the Church Redevelopment over the road an' all while we're at it? It'll be reet when they've built the new transport hub. There'll be cash machines agogo in there. Shame there's nowhere in the town to spend it. In fact, I'm not sure they've really thought it through. Quote
Carlos Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 And if you're a visitor? Or you've just been dropped off outside the Station? Or you're disabled, or old, or you're with a pushchair, or it's covered in ice and snow etc. It's f*cking tinpot, piss poor shite to direct people over the road, or worse, the one near Morrisons. It makes us look shit from the moment of arrival. When they going to sort out the Church Redevelopment over the road an' all while we're at it? Loads of train stations don't have cash machines. I'm struggling to see a situation where you are at Bolton TC and NEED cash. Quote
Youri McAnespie Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) Getting a taxi dropping you off and having no cash. Catching the 6:19 to Edinburgh, and you want to buy booze from the drinks trolley. Folk who've just arrived from Manny Airport and want to take a black cab, or arrived from anywhere and want to take a black cab. Kids wanting a ticket, who've not got chip and pin cards or have no money in their chip and pin accounts (but have regular 'cash' cards). There's loads of situations where cash is preferable, I'm sure the cafe on the platform doesn't do chip and pin (though I could be wrong). Edited January 23, 2013 by Youri McAnespie Quote
little whitt Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 Loads of train stations don't have cash machines. I'm struggling to see a situation where you are at Bolton TC and NEED cash. easy if your from out of town and need cash fast cause your on your way to Marsden house to see a brass Quote
no balls Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 Let's be honest, Bolton Train Station is not exactly somewhere you'd want to be for long, and I'd certainly be looking over my shoulder if I was at a cash machine Quote
Ghana White Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 I think reducing the size of the town centre is a good idea in principle but as pointed out with the new transport hub miles away from banks etc it'd need a big move, don't think the councils upto it.. bulldoze Newport street and approach to station and build new rock complex? The worry is one side of Bolton go to middlebrook and the other to bury.. it'd take a bold move to break those habits Quote
DazBob Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 I think some kind of zip-wire from the top of Bank Street to the Genting Casino would be a belting idea. Quote
freds dad Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 Read on twatter a post by Reebok Voice saying he had been in The Market Place and was suprised to see so many empty shops. I think he said 20 odd closed. I went in sunday and also couldnt believe how many closed! Well according to the Bolton News, another 2 are closing. Top man and The body shop. Place will be closed in 5 years!! Can someone find a link for the Bolton News article as Im struggling to. Quote
Eavesy Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 We honestly believe if we'd kept it as it was, ie old style market hall with niche shops selling sweets, cotton or piping bags, probably turning over £80 a day at max, then everything would be grand? Not having that. With regards to bury. What's the living situation there? What % of people live or work within 5 miles of the rock? I dare say its a lot more than Bolton. Bolton is a large town but with the majority of people living outside it. Bolton doesn't really have a large amount of people working in the town centre either. Quote
Traf Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) Can someone find a link for the Bolton News article as Im struggling to. http://www.thebolton...wn_centre_mall/ Edited January 23, 2013 by Traf Quote
freds dad Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 http://www.thebolton...wn_centre_mall/ Cheers Traf Quote
Casino Posted January 23, 2013 Posted January 23, 2013 (edited) With regards to bury. What's the living situation there? What % of people live or work within 5 miles of the rock? I dare say its a lot more than Bolton. Bolton is a large town but with the majority of people living outside it. Bolton doesn't really have a large amount of people working in the town centre either. seeing as 5 miles travel in the most built up areas leaving bury gets you to either prestwich or bolton, i'm not sure of how that matters prestwich will go to manc, radcliffe/bolton would previously have gone to bolton, now i'm not so sure most areas within walking distance of bury tc are shit holes i'd say a very similar situation to bolton bolton has a big pond to fish in and its bait is shit Edited January 23, 2013 by Casino Quote
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