Action needed to save centre
GREETINGS my majestic Maxonians. I made a trip to the new Barracks Mill retail park today just to get a feel for the level of trade I think it might generate.
Anyone, and I mean anyone, who believes this will not divert business from the town centre knows absolutely nothing about retail.
Yes, of course, John Douglas will still be there in Chestergate, waving the flag, but that’s a destination store.
Men from all over Cheshire visit John Douglas.
They have been smart enough to get exclusive deals with all the top menswear brands but for the town centre in general Barracks Mill is a threat they didn’t need.
I don’t usually guarantee anything but I absolutely assure you every family in Macclesfield will visit Aldi by Christmas.
With the pressure on household budgets this winter it’s a no-brainer.
I shop three times a week (I don’t like freezing food) and my average shop is £24 a trip.
From what I saw on the shelves at Aldi I can get that down to £16. Why would I not go there?
I think M&S will do well with their food-only store but not having a café is a big mistake.
The M&S café has been the meeting point for shoppers for decades. The reason, I’m told, is that Costa Coffee will be there but both seem to have traded well together in the town centre so I’m not buying that excuse.
No bloke is going to miss M&S clothing (unless they have an affinity for cardigans with leather buttons) but the café and the toilet facilities will be sorely missed by all.
If you get an electric car in your Christmas stocking, you my friend, will be living at Barrack’s Mill where they have more charging points than Sellafield. (Maybe they will have a warm-hub for those of us who cannot afford to have the central heating on?)
Forget about walking from Barracks Mill to the town centre it’s not going to happen.
No one’s going to lug bags full of shopping that distance. Most shoppers want to park as close to the till as they can get.
Major plans for Macclesfield town centre need to be made and quick if it’s not going to slide into urban decay.
Many American towns have reinvented themselves as places to eat, meet and socialise.
Private retail has flourished, along with, restaurants, cafes and outdoor events.
We need some very experienced retailers to help formulate a vision of the future for Macclesfield but don’t dither and dawdle do it now. The time for waffle and procrastination is long gone.
Failure to act is not an option.