Marks and spencer Swansea

[J_B]

What's in the British Home stores building these days> I walked past there last Friday and it looked like offices etc, apart from that I didn't take that much notice, bid store that was like M&S.

Swansea library among other things.

 

[Smurph]

What's in the British Home stores building these days> I walked past there last Friday and it looked like offices etc, apart from that I didn't take that much notice, bid store that was like M&S.

I think it's public Library

 

[Jack2jack]

That’s pretty much it for the centre now isn’t it? Except for buying some nice fish from the market of course. The sweet shop there is awesome too, a real blast back to the 80s, but they probably can’t keep the whole city centre alive.

It's been going down hill for years Leon, it used to be the place to go. I hardly visit these days there's nothing there, we like Trostre and Mac G. Bridgend, those two places have everything we need and parking is easy. The missus pops into town once a week, but that's about it.

 

[JackSomething]

It's been going down hill for years Leon, it used to be the place to go. I hardly visit these days there's nothing there, we like Trostre and Mac G. Bridgend, those two places have everything we need and parking is easy. The missus pops into town once a week, but that's about it.

That post brilliantly sums up the issue facing the majority of most town/city centres. Retailers have moved to out of town shopping like Trostre and MacArthur Glenn as rents are cheaper, units are bigger, parking on the doorstep, etc. Every retailer moving out of centres means there's less and less there to attract footfall, so more and more make the move. It's a vicious circle. So while you are correct in saying there's 'nothing there' in a retail sense, there's lots of other stuff to do in the city centre, which is what will likely become the norm in the future.

On another note, I had to go to Cardiff for work yesterday. I normally only go to Cardiff maybe once or twice a year, it's always on a weekend and I drive up. Yesterday I took the train and arrived around 8:30. I previously said in this thread that you can't compare Cardiff city centre to Swansea's and yesterday underlined that for me. Getting off the train and seeing the BBC offices, the bus terminal, the UK Government building (not been up by train since all that was finished) and the throngs of people on their way to work, it was another world to Swansea city centre. It felt more like walking out of the Underground at a London station.

 

[Cooperman]

For every Swansea there is a Shrewsbury.

 

[Jack2jack]

That post brilliantly sums up the issue facing the majority of most town/city centres. Retailers have moved to out of town shopping like Trostre and MacArthur Glenn as rents are cheaper, units are bigger, parking on the doorstep, etc. Every retailer moving out of centres means there's less and less there to attract footfall, so more and more make the move. It's a vicious circle. So while you are correct in saying there's 'nothing there' in a retail sense, there's lots of other stuff to do in the city centre, which is what will likely become the norm in the future.

On another note, I had to go to Cardiff for work yesterday. I normally only go to Cardiff maybe once or twice a year, it's always on a weekend and I drive up. Yesterday I took the train and arrived around 8:30. I previously said in this thread that you can't compare Cardiff city centre to Swansea's and yesterday underlined that for me. Getting off the train and seeing the BBC offices, the bus terminal, the UK Government building (not been up by train since all that was finished) and the throngs of people on their way to work, it was another world to Swansea city centre. It felt more like walking out of the Underground at a London station.

Good post J. I'm not convinced there is that much to offer in Swansea centre after the shops close at 5 or whatever it is. Yes you have a bowling alley and cinema in Parc Tawe and some eateries, but I doubt that the clientele drift up to town after they finish down there, could be wrong. I dont really know the answer, its above my pay grade, I guess you try different approaches until you arrive at one that works.

 

[JackSomething]

For every Swansea there is a Shrewsbury.

That post will probably need some context for anyone to see the point you're making.

If it's that Shrewsbury town centre is really good for retail in contrast to Swansea, a quick look would suggest being the only decent sized town in Shropshire would help, as would it remaining untouched in WW2, making it a far more appealing town centre to visit (over 660 listed buildings!).

 

[exiledclaseboy]

It’s a bit like the Ospreys. Everyone’s bemoaning the loss but no one went there when it could have made a difference.

 

[Smurph]

Not sure I buy in to the city centre is dead theory.

Plenty of other cities throughout the UK which I have visited for work have thriving centers.

Not sure Swansea council have the same view for Swansea City centre as the councils do in other cities and towns.

 

[Cooperman]

Not sure I buy in to the city centre is dead theory.

Plenty of other cities throughout the UK which I have visited for work have thriving centers.

Not sure Swansea council have the same view for Swansea City centre as the councils do in other cities and towns.

They don’t, which is why I mentioned Shrewsbury where the local council has made a reasonable attempt at balancing business rates for locals, with the need for retail park capacity.

 

[jack_lord]

That post brilliantly sums up the issue facing the majority of most town/city centres. Retailers have moved to out of town shopping like Trostre and MacArthur Glenn as rents are cheaper, units are bigger, parking on the doorstep, etc. Every retailer moving out of centres means there's less and less there to attract footfall, so more and more make the move. It's a vicious circle. So while you are correct in saying there's 'nothing there' in a retail sense, there's lots of other stuff to do in the city centre, which is what will likely become the norm in the future.

On another note, I had to go to Cardiff for work yesterday. I normally only go to Cardiff maybe once or twice a year, it's always on a weekend and I drive up. Yesterday I took the train and arrived around 8:30. I previously said in this thread that you can't compare Cardiff city centre to Swansea's and yesterday underlined that for me. Getting off the train and seeing the BBC offices, the bus terminal, the UK Government building (not been up by train since all that was finished) and the throngs of people on their way to work, it was another world to Swansea city centre. It felt more like walking out of the Underground at a London station.

blame the assembly for shafting Swansea not for cardiff being a decent place desreved of anything

 

[Smurph]

They don’t, which is why I mentioned Shrewsbury where the local council has made a reasonable attempt at balancing business rates for locals, with the need for retail park capacity.

I thought that was what you were getting at. I've spent a fair amount of time in Exeter over the years and their city centre is quite vibrant.

Rob Stewart seems to have other ideas, mainly accommodation based.

 

[Neath_Jack]

blame the assembly for shafting Swansea not for cardiff being a decent place desreved of anything

Nah can’t keep acting the poor relation. Swansea council are their own worse enemy. There is no way anyone in Swansea can say that they make the most of the seaside location. Get in the trenches, roll up the sleeves and make the best of what we’ve got.

 

[Smurph]

Nah can’t keep acting the poor relation. Swansea council are their own worse enemy. There is no way anyone in Swansea can say that they make the most of the seaside location. Get in the trenches, roll up the sleeves and make the best of what we’ve got.

Missed a massive opportunity to put Swansea firmly on the map during our premier league days.

There were literally thousands of people from all over the UK in the city every other weekend.

 

[Jack2jack]

It’s a bit like the Ospreys. Everyone’s bemoaning the loss but no one went there when it could have made a difference.

When would that have been, after the likes of Amazon flooded the market with cheaper goods or maybe after the councils in their infinate wisdom granted permission for out of town retail outlets to spring up everywhere with free parking. All of the above sounding the death nell for city centres. We all had a choice, the majority chose the cheaper, easier option. Personally I hate shopping on line, and as has been said already, the shops that have survived dont carry the amount or variety of stock they used to. It is what it is, city centres need to evolve to suit the needs of a newer type of customer. It doesnt stop us mourning (not moaning about) what has now dispearing before our eyes.