Where does your 'divide & conquer' theory come into play because M & S is closing in Middlesbrough ?
I get that you dont like Brits and Yanks, but you talk like a communist.
Money in pockets isnt changing the high street, habits are.
M + S in the Boro shutting
- Thread starter tonybiriyani
- Start date
Money in pockets isnt changing the high street, habits are.
Corcaigh_the_Cat
Well-known member
'Don't like'. Grow up.
Money in pockets has worked across Europe, why not here?
'Talk like a Communist'
hosepipe27
Member
hosepipe27
Member
You can park outside the shop
hosepipe27
Member
No Smack heads
hosepipe27
Member
Surely Normanby , Eston etc would go to Cleveland park
ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
Hartlepool has its own retail parks as well. Most places do which is where these "Teesside park is the devil!" Arguments fall apart.
Nero
Well-known member
Unfortunately this news is no surprise. Shopping habits have changed massively as online retail starts to take over. Just look within a small radius in the North East. Amazon has a "fulfilment" centre at Darlington, Bowburn and soon to be at Wolviston / Wynyard. Three massive facilities that can respond to someone clicking an order and get it delivered the next day (if they pay for of course).
Town Centres such as Middlesbrough and Stockton need to reinvent themselves as people will not go there to buy stuff (they mainly don't need).
Town Centres such as Middlesbrough and Stockton need to reinvent themselves as people will not go there to buy stuff (they mainly don't need).
ThatFragranceGuy
Well-known member
People will still go to physical stores, we regularly visit M&S at Teesside Park, but habits have changed and not just online. Why would you want to pay to park on the roof of the shipping centre and have to get a lift down and walk to the shop, then traipse back with a few bags of shopping when you can park outside the shop for free. My mum would think nothing of getting the bus to boro with her trolly and getting stuff from M&S but imagine that is really rare now.
Stockton is reinventing itself and reducing its retwil footprint which I think is a good move, I also think they need to take a leaf out of boro's book and get more leisure in the town centre to give people a reason to go there. Boro reducing retail by converting to leisure but will still have a lot of retail but may be able to weather it better with it's busier town centre
Towns need more leisure, more service orientated businesses and it would be good to have some high quality housing / flats as town centre living is seen as quite squalid / unattractive for the most part in Teesside whereas it's often expensive in places like Newcastle, York, Leeds etc - for that you need good torn centre jobs, good places to love and reasons to want to be there (food, drink, entertainment)
MolteniArcore
Well-known member
On Peston last night it showed that in the US they have nearly twice the disposable income that we have in the UK. If we could get close to that there would be lots of money to spend in our towns.
I am not criticising your post btw, just highlighting a quite shocking stat. The UK population are poor now in comparison to other G7 countries and people (including those in Government) are starting to finally realise that Brexit is causing it.
How devastating for the town. Absolutely terrible.
NorthumberlandBoro
Well-known member
The days of having 4 or 5 large department stores in town seem long gone.
asredastheycome
Well-known member
They won't be able to buy anything that they need(or don't need) if there are no shops in the Town Centre. I would use the town centre any day of the week if there was decent(any) shops there. I would rather buy online than go to Teesside Park etc.
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The bus station is in town. The main rail station. The road infrastructure and car parking. This is a real kick in the teeth for ordinary people. We must now drive or connect via maybe a couple of buses to Teesside Park or journey an hour for a city centre store - what on earth is green, sustainable or people friendly about this.
And considering Middlesbrough and Teesside was one of the early cornerstones of M&S - from an early penny stall at St Hilda's and burial place of Mrs Agnes Spencer in Marton. It feels all wrong.
Very sad.
Centralscrutinizer
Well-known member
Very bad news this. Another move that's killing town centres and like with bank closures is going to leave older people more disconnected 
Colin Warnek
Well-known member
It's not good news for the town - however I'm not a fan of M&S and haven't been for several years. Aren't there better alternatives in the town for food or clothing?
Centralscrutinizer
Well-known member
Nowhere better for microwave curry and underpants. I'm having to go to teesside park now
No. Is the answer in short. Only supermarket is Sainsburys - and then a little further our Aldi and then another half mile away Lidl. There are clothes shops of course but M&S is a real staple and its cafe was a long a community hub as well. In fact for many years the store were very hot on making the cafe a meeting place for various community groups from seniors, dementia and disabilities etc. End of an era.
wilkos_perm
Well-known member
Because it's easy to get to (by car), free parking, and a better range of shops than the town centre.