ADAM JONES, the owner of Granvilles in Stone, believes the High Street is under serious threat. We’ve seen a number of closures recently, and the continued growth of charity shops. Here, Adam offers his personal view of what steps can be taken to get the town centre booming…
[dropcap]I[/dropcap] have run a restaurant in Stone for over 31 years and over that time I’ve seen many changes in the town – not always for the best.
I have got some suggestions which I hope may help improve the future prospects of our much-loved High Street which I believe to be under serious threat at the moment.
This problem is not unique to Stone and we must learn quickly from other towns that have overcome similar challenges.
A small working group could be set up including a few existing traders, a couple of local councillors (perhaps from opposite parties) and a couple of enthusiastic local residents all with the same vision of putting Stone High Street back on the map .
They must have no political agenda or self-interest, be happy to work with the local M and work in harmony with relevant officials at Stafford Borough and any other officials. The local M.P would be asked to champion the cause and help to put the group in touch with relevant bodies, representatives etc both at Stafford Borough, Westminster and elsewhere. The group would have to raise money through funding, grants etc to pay for a range of projects and consultations and also do a lot of research. Perhaps also organise questionnaires etc to guage public opinion.
Maybe it could be called W.I.S.H. (WORKING group for the INTERESTS of STONE HIGH Street)
And here are some suggestions for their Wish List:
A – Make the High Street more attractive to visitors.
B – Make the High Street more attractive to current and potential traders.
A. ‘TO DO’ LIST FOR ATTRACTING VISITORS
Find out how other similar Towns are tackling problems such as:
Getting the vital planning control to restrict too many similar shops [such as Charity shops, Betting shops, E-cigarette shops etc). A strict planning rule is already in existence for the number and location of licensed premises in Stone, why not for others?
Look into restricting rate relief to any new charity shops above the current percentage share of retailers in Stone at this time. Any more would surely have a detrimental impact on the existing high percentage of charity shops, not to mention the town’s image! (a town does need some charity shops, but not too many)
Look into forcing Landlords to act where units are falling into disrepair or have been left empty for many years (Wine Rack and the old warehouse in Adie’s Alley for example.) Perhaps Compulsory Purchase Orders; Repair 0rders; Empty shop management orders or reduced rents. Look into what other towns do? Wouldn’t the old listed building on the corner of Adie’s Alley make a great Community Heritage/Museum Centre and make the approach into the High Street so much more attractive? Could the council buy it? Are there any Improvement Grants available? (It seems to me it would be a constructive use of public money and a chance to receive rent by putting residential apartments or offices above).
The group could ‘big up’ the car parking with attractive signs in the car parks AND IN THE HIGH STREET highlighting the ‘short walk ‘to these car parks… Mill Street to Christ Church car park – less than three minutes (how many visitors know about the path by Morrison’s?); Adie’s Alley to Crown Street – less than 2minutes; Granville Square to Christ Church car park – less than two minutes (how many visitors know about the passage next to the Blue Rooms ?) etc.
A feature could be made of these short cuts, with clear, attractive signs.
Look into car park charges:
- Can they be reduced or scrapped altogether?
- Can they be waivered, say on a Saturday afternoon or on a Market Day etc.?
- Can the group help create a ‘traders refund scheme’ where shops/restaurants etc. can offer to pay the parking charge if the customer spends over a certain amount with them? This could be encouraged by providing signs in the car parks naming the participants and their offers when they buy a ticket
- Can the 1 hour free parking on Station Road and Margaret Street be extended to 2 hours as they do in Eccleshall? Maybe introduce diagonal parking spaces on Station Road to get more spaces?
Could there be more ‘Brown Signs’ on A34 etc. showing heritage attractions and places of special interest?
Could the group help to encourage, research and invite more interesting activities in the Market Square such as small musical concerts, giant chess competitions, sand beds for Boules and ‘Beach days’, classic car shows, cooking demos, book fayres etc. This would attract more visitors.
The group could organise more signs in the town to make visitors aware of attractions such as the Farmers’ Markets; Town Markets; Craft Markets; Festivals. Also point out other attractions such as 20+ traders in Radford Street, the Arcade by the Co-Op, 20+ eateries, the local parks; canal and river walks.
B. TO DO LIST FOR POTENTIAL TRADERS
Are there any Grants, schemes etc. available to support the local traders? Check into the Small Business Rate relief scheme or Shop Front Improvement Grants for example and inform all traders if found.
Could ‘Rates Holidays’ or rate reductions [even short-term] be offered to any new businesses that are going to enhance and add potential footfall to the town?
Could they introduce a points system that favours retailers such as butchers, delis, quality clothes/shoe shops etc?
Could links be made with commercial estate agents so that interested parties could be put in touch with the ‘Working Group’ to discuss their plans and qualifications and give the group a chance to promote Stone and offer a ‘carrot’ if appropriate? Could the Town Council allocate funds for this?
Could they target desirable traders that they would like to see operating in our town?
Could they speak to the Head Offices of existing larger retailers to find out their future plans and see if we can help to secure their future in our High Street? (Boots / WH Smith /Superdrug / Co–Op etc.) If for example the Co-op were ever to think of leaving could we try and lobby Waitrose or M&S into Stone? Personally, I believe a new supermarket on Westbridge Park, even M&S, would not benefit the High Street. An M&S or Waitrose in the High Street would be like a magnet for other traders).
Could they produce a promotional video showing a foodie-crazed High Street every time the Farmers’ Market comes to town?
DEMAND IS THERE AS PROVED EVERY FIRST SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH!
Could they compile some facts and figures showing potential traders how successful Stone can be, not only with support from the local population but also from the prosperous villages nearby such as Eccleshall, Yarnfield, Barlaston, Milwich, Fulford and also Trentham, Stafford, Newcastle etc?
Could the group get involved with the running of Stone’s market?
Could they help seek out and attract footfall-enhancing traders just like the wonderful Fresh Fish Man every Tuesday and Friday? Could stallholders selling quality goods that are not readily available in the shops be offered reduced stall charges, for example?
These are just a few suggestions which I feel, if implemented, could help our town. There needs to be more co-ordinated control and organisation. Where there’s a will there’s a way!
There have been lots of comments on our Facebook page about Adam’s action plan…
Adam Jones, the owner of Granvilles Brasserie, says it's time for action to get Stone High Street booming. He's put…
Posted by A Little Bit of Stone on Tuesday, May 19, 2015
15 comments
Chelsea Hyland
1) Cut down the number of charity shops on the high street, 2 is more than enough in stone. Alot of locals and visitors have stressed how fed up we all are with seeing charity shops and not new ideas.
2) move the butchers on to the main high street where it can be seen by all locals and visitor’s, everyone loves fresh, locally sourced meat and produce, but not many people know that there is a butchers there.
3) move Thornton’s and Yankee candle shop down to the middle of the high street, it’s tucked away up the top and not very eye catching to customers. Both are very popular shops.
4) bring the likes of next, peacocks and new look to the high street. We want clothing shops that everyone has heard of. Also very popular with all generations and would be welcomed greatly.
5) The Crown Hotel is right in the heart of Stone but isn’t very appealing to look at. It could seriously use TLC on it’s appearance both inside and out.
6) The Library is also a main focus in Stone but is not the most obvious of buildings. It needs a nice new BIGGER and BRIGHTER sign on the front entrance stating that it is Stone Library.
7) The high street in general is looking very tired and dated, it would look so much more appealing if the buildings/shops were all painted white and company logos were slightly bigger and brighter. If you’ve got a business to be proud of then show it off, make sure that your shop is noticed.
8) the Veg and fruit store is VERY popular, as is Stone Baked Bakery. I personally feel that putting The Veg and Fruit store, Stone Baked Bakery and The Butchers side by side on the main street would benefit greatly for all Involved.
9) we’ve recently had a brand new Spice and Herb shop open in Stone high street, people who know about it and have raved about it BUT it’s tucked away down an alley where most people won’t even know it exists. Bring it out of the dark corner and out on to the main street where it can be seen and admired.
Richard Jones
Regarding the point “attracting visitors”, I am trying to stimulate the High Street by investing a considerable amount of my own money and time into bringing an event to Stone that will attract families/tourists but to be quite honest, I wish I hadn’t bothered, its like banging your head against a brick wall. The majority of people and businesses don’t seem to care. There has been support from some of the business’s, ALBOS/Home&Colour/The Gazette/Adam..and a few more, but not enough and to be fair, the Town Council hasn’t exactly stood out as beacon of light. The Community/Businesses and Town Council must be more proactive before the remaining shops close and banks leave town because then we will be in trouble. I will not be getting involved because my time is being spent on one project already, its time other people did something as well.
Dena Fell
I have to agree with the comment about stone high street needs new shops but also landlords starting to care for the buildings they own, in my opinion even though it may be a bit biased is that when Woolworths went the high street started to die, there are too many charity shops opening which in my view is preventing new businesses wanting to come to the town. On my recent visits to stone I was shocked as to how quiet it was compared to 6-7 years ago, although the road works at meaford road may not help. We need the council to take a proper look at the town and invite businesses in that people want to come a and shop, by doing this it will help the town to grow and thrive again. I miss working in the town and the customers that used to come into Woolworths the town and residence deserve something better but that does not mean building on green assets such as west bridge park.
Andy Osgathorpe
(This is a repeat of a ALBOS FB comment)
Yes, I think there are some good points here. I can understand people moaning about the current high street but there are reasons why it’s has evolved this way and everyone (retailers, consumers, landlords and councils)together with market conditions, have had an input into this.
I think if we are not careful, we end up preserving and paying for nostalgia. Do we really want to do this; I think not. At the same time, when you look at various initiatives which have been used to revitalise the high street, most have has limited success. I think the review proposed by ADAM JONES, the owner of Granvilles in Stone could well be a good start providing it doesn’t just become a talking shop, stifled by bureaucracy and insurmountable problems which are outside their control. I believe there are major problems in this area and unless we as a community have control/input into some of these fundamental problems, progress will be limited
Councillor Mrs Jill Hood
Well done Adam some new points and some already tried & tested . For the last 4 years we have had no FREE at entry festivals IN the High Street, NO street parties in the High Street , NO book festival, NO music festival , NO cycle race encompassing the High Street, NO Tour of Britain come through Stone and saddest of all the Summer Festival parade no longer goes down the High Street. All of these events brings in hundreds of people into the town and many of them spend spend spend! What is the common denominator in all of this? The reason is we have had a Conservative controlled Stone Town Council who have refused to invest in any fun activities or events for the town. My Independent group were described as frivolous in organising all the aforementioned events BUT what they failed to realise was that by holding these events in the High Street it attracted visitors from outside of Stone and residents joined in the fun spending in the local shops and eateries, booking bed and breakfast locally and generally boosting the local economy. I have just been given charge of chair of tourism and town promotion and both the Tory group and the Independents have promised to work together, I’m really looking forward to working with and not against my fellow councillors. BUT I cannot fathom why the Tory group voted NOT to put in a bid for Westbridge Park. We had the right to bid for the strip which will have the new leisure centre and play area as we had registered the park as a community asset, this would have meant that the people of Stone would have owned that area of Westbridge Park and can I point out Stone GAVE the park to Stafford Borough in 1974. Councillor Geoff Collier from his position in the chair stated that not one person who he had spoken to over the last few weeks had mentioned a new leisure centre or a play facility but HAD said they wanted a one stop Marks & Spencers food store on Westbridge Park . The Tory group all toed the party line and the vote to bid was lost Adam says he he doesn’t want it to be political, I’m sorry Adam but that’s exactly what it has been brought down to over the last four years like it or not! This is my point, we could have bought that strip of land and stopped a Marks & Spencer’s being built. Now people who are coming off the boats throughout the year will moor up pop in to M&S stock up get back on their boats and cruise on. People who would normally have popped into the High Street to buy their lunch will nip to Westbridge Park for a few minutes into M&S then drive back to work. We already have an M&S 5 minutes up the Eccleshall road why on earth do we need another. Councillor Lin Collier was pictured on the front of the Newsletter standing in an empty High Street saying she couldn’t even buy a pair of knickers in the High street I wonder what Chantilly thought? Why didn’t she stand pictured on a Farmers Market day and say This is what our High street should be like every day it needs improving. What kind of message does that bleak picture give out ? She also voted for an M&S food store on the Park yet she says the High Street is dying, well maybe she has realised by now she has put yet another nail in that High Street coffin, but Brownie points to her for toeing the Stafford Borough Party line. We should all be resisting a food store on Westbridge Park but encouraging stores like Waitrose in the High street who’s staff profit share and who invest in the community. Heron foods would be ideal for a number of quality independent little units. Stone in Bloom group are about to begin work on a few of the very grey areas and walkways in the town making them attractive to passers by making them want to go and explore and find their way around ALL the shops not just those on the High street. I shall do my part in restoring a vibrant High Street once again in fact I’m really excited about the prospect.
Pat Booth
Hi I would like to see a community shop for local crafters, run in a cooperative way. Some where to ‘rent, space for short terms. Or a shop dedicated to short term pop ups with reasonable rents.
Tom Kelt
Adam, I agree entirely and there are some very good points here. I think you will be pushing on an open door with the idea of a working group, at least with the independent councilors’ group. And I am sure there are individuals who would like to contribute, including myself. There are also some interesting comments above which need to be taken into account.
Charlie Hearing
Adam, you seemed to have missed the election, what the town and in particular Stone borough councillors need is a new vision for Stone. the town council have approached the borough in the past for reduced parking fees, unfortunately the borough view Stone as a CASH COW. Stone town council rent the Northesk street car park for people in particular those that work in Stone to park there for free and they have tried and failed to purchase this car park, in fact it can be taken off the town council with only a two week notice period. The town clerk spoke to the bouroguh about the town managing the car parks with a scheme where as if you shop you get refunded. But if theres money attached the borough hang onto it for dear life. Lots of properties and bits of land around Stone are owned privately. You mentioned the old building in Adies alley private owned by those that own the Ford garage in Stone, it has planning permission in situ the town council were pleased to grant it , thinking finally the building would be regenerated But no they stuck in on the open market to profit from it, as is the case for many of the landlords that own shop properties of the high street. Stone already has a working party in TOTALLY LOCALLY that’s a good starting point for interested parties. ‘Nice ‘ shops do open in Stone but if they are not used then you loose them, as was the case for the children’s shoes shop in Adies alley gone because they weren’t supported, quality items cost and everyone wants stuff on the cheap. FYI the town council run the market during the week , they own the stalls and the office staff in the town council work very hard to maintain this. The food market is owned by the borough council note the different coloured market canopies, Stone do not receive an income from the food market the borough do and also profit from increased parking revenue on the food market day, the parking should really be free on this day but as I said the borough view Stone as a CASH COW. Heres another little known issue the high street belongs to ….. Thats right the bourough council. However to give the borough their due business rates are reduced for start up businesses in the Town I know that some small businesses have had this and it helps in the first year, but note other councils will allow free business rates in the first year, not Stafford though. The people of stone pay for a town council £40 on a band D property the precept, so they end up paying more community charge than Stafford residents and still have fewer facilities to show for it., and the Stone council own very little and have very little influence on aspects such as parking that would and could greatly improved footfall on the high street. the Borough council in Stafford is where pressure really needs to be applied, and if there was no Stone Town Council the borough would actually have to get involved and provide services to the Town!
Jill Lawton
Some very interesting ideas and good to read.
“A version of a vision is better than no vision at all”
Andrew Best
I think the WISH idea is great and would be interested in helping with it in some way.
Tilly Budd
The only reason I visit Stone High Street is the charity shops. I wouldn’t be so quick to dis-count them as an asset.
yvonne masters
Here here Adam,,, we all know how many charity shops we have, is this due to the fact they get reduced rents,, so why can’t that be so for nice shop. Then once we have one or two,,more will want to join. The high street is depressing, I hear a rumour Boots may go!!!!!!!!.
Action is needed NOW. Agree with all you have mentioned Adam,, shame it falls on the same folk all the time. All traders should join force.
Jamie Summerfield
Hi Yvonne. As far as we’re aware, Boots is here to stay in Stone!
Molly Davis
I was just talking about how Stone needs putting back on the map. A family member of mine owns a business in stone and it’s such a shame to see the high street so quiet when it has so much potential!
Jamie Summerfield
Thanks for your comment, Molly. I hope the group Adam writes about can be set up quickly and get stuck in!