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Time for ideas on ‘bomb site’
I SPENT some time away from my home town. Amazing when I returned to discover that the centre of Stourport looks like a bomb site - something you don't see until you go away and come back with fresh eyes.
Boarded-up, graffiti, desolate, depressed, roadworks, pot-holes, tarmac tessera ... the real picture is even bigger and more worrying.
Yes, the river runs by. Yes, the funfair is more colourful. Yes British Waterways are investing in what could be a superb canal development.
Oh, and yes, the flowerbeds look nice and the parks are mowed.
Let's then switch to the key issue - economic and visual vibrancy on High Street and Bridge Street.
The point is that my council tax has just gone up.
A council member recently bemoaned the much-needed new Tesco by saying the high street will end up being boarded-up - but it is already fast becoming boarded up.
There's a new army of traffic wardens handing out parking tickets like sweets to children. But the existing money and this extra money will go on more boards to board things up with I suppose.
It appears to me that Stourport is seen through rosy glasses by those bodies - commercial, civic and otherwise - who have the influence to make change happen. Perhaps they should all go away for a while and come back. You know, see the reality not the fantasy.
Better still, let the Shuttle/Times & News start an open forum for its readership to come up with ideas for the town's development. Here are two for starters:
1) Ask Tesco to re-position their internal departments (clothing, meat, fish, household etc) into the vacant shop premises. Make them paint each one differently but use their retail expertise to add a new beating heart to our town.
2) Actively push for the new bridging point then reinstate the old tram to run through the town from a visitor car park to a new visitor centre. A museum, an activity centre, a place of learning about the history of the town. Put a real narrow boat at its centre as the key exhibit.
3) Give the children here something to do. Ask them what they want and act on it. They complain of being bored. If that means a new mini-cinema or pool hall or whatever, if it's subsidised and supervised, modern and attractive, it could work.
Wild and wacky? That's how brainstorming works. And it's brainstorming that's needed before the grey cloud that hangs over this town creates a rainstorm to wash all away but the housing estate it is fast becoming.
So how about a campaign to put the heart and soul back into Stourport? Or, I suppose, we could all just carry on keeping our eyes closed.
JULIAN WILLIAMS
Garland Road
Stourport
9:38am Wednesday 30th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: FlipC, Stourport on 12:26pm Thu 1 May 08
Commenting on your points
1) While getting Tesco to take over some of the shops would certainly enliven the town, what has to be considered is where money spent ends up. From memory I recall a comparison between supermarkets and local traders that claimed you needed to spend twice as much to get half the return.
2) The chances of a new bridge range between zero and none. Nevertheless if such a miracle does occur I agree reinstating the tram would be a good idea, likewise we could consider pedestrianising Bridge Street entirely.
3) They have and they did, hence our graffiti-covered skate-park that is indeed widely used when not under water.
As you say you've just come back you may have missed the plans for the Basin Link, which is set to help Bridge Street. We might be getting a new restaurant at the old Job Centre and of course the M&Co at the old, old market.
Stuff is happening and the current works are a testament to that.
Commenting on your points
1) While getting Tesco to take over some of the shops would certainly enliven the town, what has to be considered is where money spent ends up. From memory I recall a comparison between supermarkets and local traders that claimed you needed to spend twice as much to get half the return.
2) The chances of a new bridge range between zero and none. Nevertheless if such a miracle does occur I agree reinstating the tram would be a good idea, likewise we could consider pedestrianising Bridge Street entirely.
3) They have and they did, hence our graffiti-covered skate-park that is indeed widely used when not under water.
As you say you've just come back you may have missed the plans for the Basin Link, which is set to help Bridge Street. We might be getting a new restaurant at the old Job Centre and of course the M&Co at the old, old market.
Stuff is happening and the current works are a testament to that.
Posted by: hotfuzz, Stourport on 11:14am Sun 4 May 08
JULIAN - Stand for election - I'd vote for you!!!!
JULIAN - Stand for election - I'd vote for you!!!!
Posted by: hotfuzz, Stourport on 11:14am Sun 4 May 08
JULIAN - Stand for election - I'd vote for you!!!!
JULIAN - Stand for election - I'd vote for you!!!!
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