M&S closure another blow to town centre
THE closure of M&S has been another ‘shock story’ for shoppers in Stockport.
Once we were a thriving market town, now the market has virtually disappeared. Parking charges, high rates, poor transport areas and rents in the town centre are all factors in these closures.
Stores are being replaced by foodie shops, offices and car parks. We do not all want to shop online or go out of our area to shop.
It started with Woolworths followed by C&A then the Co-op and, last but not least, BHS.
How many more department stores will be left in Stockport? I am waiting on Debenhams to be next on the list.
Why don’t these shops fight back. Jobs in the area will be lost.
Footfall would be increased in Stockport precinct if the parking fees were reduced.
Limited money has been put into major shops but I cannot put all the blame on them as the precinct is a disgrace, especially when it rains as you cannot walk without trying to jump over puddles. Why cannot some of the area be covered? Redrock could have been developed after the precinct makeover.
Stockport council have left it a little late in the day to be trying to turn Stockport into another ‘Didsbury’ type area of leisure and food.
I welcome change but not at the expense of losing all our meeting places and being able to browse throughout the shops. Linda Mair Victoria Park Offerton
LAST LOOK AT TOWN HALL
I WENT to Manchester Town Hall on Friday, January 12, as the Town Hall will be closed for six years, they say more like seven years.
I went to have a look around but did not see much. I was going to go back on Sunday but it was a ticketed event so I didn’t bother.
As I left to go home I went round the outside of the Town hall and took some photos at the back of the Town Hall as I was walking down Princess Street. I took two photos at 3.15pm, one of them a minute later with a tram in it. Hope you like them. Tony Saunders Reddish
WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE
MOTORISTS are told that parking on double yellow lines is all about safety. That is why it is not permitted.
It seems that road safety does not apply in Bramhall village, especially in the road adjacent to the post office building.
When I asked a traffic warden if he was going to book the post office vans on double yellow lines he said he couldn’t because the vans had the Queen’s head on them.
One rule for one eh? Either scrap the yellow lines or allow everyone to park on them as it seems that road safety doesn’t apply in that area. Name and address supplied