‘Why weren’t taxpayers consulted on purchase?’
FOLLOWING our story about the deal to buy Grimsby’s Freshney Place Shopping Centre being approved by senior councillors, you had your say on our Facebook page.
Lyn Hodgson: Good, it’s the centre point of Grimsby, can’t let it rot. Make a go of it and sell it on for a profit in the future maybe.
Tony Reeves: Why didn’t it go to a public vote? More wasted money at a time when it should be spent on failing services. This council could not run a bath.
Donna Johnson: They need to put something for older kids to do in there like trampoline parks, etc. There’s nothing for teenagers and families with older kids to do around here. It’s not like there isn’t room for anything, with all the shops that have closed down. Judith Davidson: Let’s hope they encourage small businesses with fair rents that are manageable for shopkeepers to start up.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
By Suzi-Mai Wells
Kevin Darnill: Shopping precincts in every town and city are dying so our inept council think it’s a good idea to buy it, having no retail experience and a bad track record in failed schemes. The professional company who currently own the precinct want to offload it to get rid of their liability. If it was a viable business, other private companies would bid for it.
Sharon Loughton: About time the “ones that pay have a say”, put this to the taxpayers vote!
George Nicholls: Who are these senior councillors why weren’t the residents of Grimsby consulted on this purchase? Half the stores in the centre are empty as are the stalls in Top Town Market. Another waste of money by NELC.
Gary Stafford: Council thinks it can run a shopping centre better than a company that specialised in shopping centres for years. I mean, what could possibly go wrong? Samantha Moore: Only if they actually consult the public and listen to the people of Grimsby will this be a good idea. They need to listen to what the people who actually live in Grimsby want. David Simpson: Freshney Place is dead in the water, as are the vast majority of today’s shopping centres. Need an innovative plan, looking 20 years into the future. Bulldozing it would be a step in the right direction!
Jan Cawte: So let’s hope they encourage new businesses by offering low prices for rent of stores, it’s surely better than having so many empty. I would rather go to Louth personally as more choice of fab shops.
Kevin Gospel: It’ll be nearly all payed for with a government grant and the council just needs to pay towards. All the people moaning that it’s a waste of money, then would you prefer it closed because of no investor all all that brings? At least the council can charge a more reasonable rent, along with rebuilding the bottom end, again paid mainly by grant.
Charlie Ives: The rental rates in there at the minute are ridiculous, hopefully council will lower them and fill the place up.