Warwick Mop

[Toad]

It is a big problem. We have another between Warwick & Leamington with a huge Tesco shop. Nobody wanted it, the local councils fought it all the way to the High court and lost. Now they want to expand the shop (putting even more small businesses out of business) and the planners just say 'Yes' because if the applicants appeal and win the local council picks up the legal bill and can be sued for loss of earnings during the appeals. Stupid - no local council can afford to take that risk. A good example is Coventry Airport where WDC lost a fortune.

[Shizara]

Originally Posted by Toad

... and the planners just say 'Yes' because if the applicants appeal and win the local council picks up the legal bill and can be sued for loss of earnings during the appeals. Stupid - no local council can afford to take that risk. A good example is Coventry Airport where WDC lost a fortune.

That's really where it's at perhaps. You could read much into that including the notion that there is less concern about the smaller businesses kicking up a fuss and taking them to court than the financial loss should big business do so.

[Madhatter]

Originally Posted by Toad

It is a big problem. We have another between Warwick & Leamington with a huge Tesco shop. Nobody wanted it, the local councils fought it all the way to the High court and lost. Now they want to expand the shop (putting even more small businesses out of business) and the planners just say 'Yes' because if the applicants appeal and win the local council picks up the legal bill and can be sued for loss of earnings during the appeals. Stupid - no local council can afford to take that risk. A good example is Coventry Airport where WDC lost a fortune.

Atherstone did, and quite rightly. The aldi shed did not have my approval and did not have the approval of several local councillors. You always get one though that will support these things. I'm sure there were more than one but councillor d.pickard said he was pleased the store was coming and liked the design. For some reason I got banned off our local site when I pointed out that this store will take business of local shops and incorparted a dangerous alley.
It got overturned of course Aldi got the go ahead and our borough council payed.
I admire the planning department for that.
The fair. Who's fair is it ? and why are their no consultations done with chamber of trade? you all need to get together and make it clear you will not put up with generators outside your shops. There is no need for it.

[chillitt]

mh, you ever tried to reason with the guild of showmen or a county council? its like painting fog...

[Madhatter]

they should be reasoning with each other. Whos sets out whats going where ? If it's all down to the fair people thats wrong and the fault of the shop owners. get together and force them to take notice.
Who exactly is running the town centre there. ?
All events here are managed by joint group efforts. Nobody is in charge really. And I could never see a fair coming in and taking over or the county council taking over.
We had a statutes fair in the town years ago, It was gotten rid of in the name of improvement, but I don't see why, it wasn't hurting where it was here. After a gap of many many years the last two has saw it return to its original site. It bought back a lot of childhood memories. It's just not the same stuck out of town on a muddy field. Thats ok if there's a carnival.

[chillitt]

well theres a chamber of trade that has a new broom in charge this year,a lot of the shop keepers gave up on the camber of trade cos it was a bit cliquey, hopefully thats changed now. in the past they've not had much to say. theres a town centre manager, on the council but im not sure wether he has a lot of power then there is the council itself... .

[Madhatter]

Who organises the victorian evening ?

[Toad]

The Victorian Evening is organised by the Chamber of Trade and the local Town Centre Management team. The Chamber used to organise it alone but there was such a lack of practical support from local businesses that it stopped for a couple of years. The same people who wouldn't help when it was on then said they wanted it back! Now it works well because the load is spread more fairly.
As for the Chamber of Trade, it is only as good as the input from it's members, which has lamentable in the past. It has been revamped, the support is now much better and it has even launched a new web site for all the businesses in the town at www.warwickchamberoftrade.co.uk. This has had a very good response, considering its only been live for two weeks. The only way we will get something done about things like the mop is by collective action. The Chamber has achieved amazing things over the last ten years but people always want someone else to do the work - very few are willing to put their moaning in to positive action.

[Toad]

I forgot to say, Madhatter asked 'The fair. Who's fair is it ? and why are their no consultations done with chamber of trade?' It's the local council who decides who will the mount the mop - anyone can tender, but, you've guessed it, it never goes to tender. Wonder why not. The Chamber of Trade has been fighting the mop for years and led the businesses case at the review last year.

[Madhatter]

simple, if they don't listen don't let them into the town. Cause a disturbance, block the roads. Its YOUR town, YOUR shops, you should all stick together. Now that you've got a few basic things sorted which are things that have happened in Atherstone in the past you should have a strong voice. All for one and one for all where shops are concerned.