Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement

 
 
Tuesday, 16th March 2010

Empty stores set for makeover

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date:
03 July 2009
IS this the future for Blackpool's empty high street stores?
From today, posters advertising the resort's retail revival will be plastered on some of the towns biggest vacant spaces.

Regeneration chiefs hope the colourful vinyl displays will tempt more shoppers and big names into town.

Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, said: "We're doing something about the gaps in Blackpool with colourful window designs.

We're trying to bring investment into Blackpool in the long term, but a temporary upgrade in appearance will help maintain a positive image."

from Central Drive to Cookson Street, has more than 90 empty shops out of around 700.

First stores to benefit from posters will be the former River Island on Bank Hey Street and the former Clarks shoe store on Church Street.

Many shops are empty after retailers moved into Blackpool's Houndshill Shopping Centre after its £30m revamp last year. Others have been the victims of the recession.

ReBlackpool has commissioned designers to create temporary artwork for the empty stores at two other sites.

The former Adams children's clothes store, on Bank Hey Street and the site previously occupied by Music Zone on Victoria Street will be dressed with the designs, printed on durable vinyl.

The revamp is a partnership between the regeneration company and Blackpool's Business Improvement District (BID).

Donna Jones, from BID, said: "Blackpool town centre is at the centre of our community so it is vital that any empty premises look both
vibrant and clean."

Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 04 July 2009 10:32 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Blackpool
 
Prev
1
2
1

,

04/07/2009 10:22:53
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
2

charabang,

Lancs 04/07/2009 13:00:36
Can Las Vegas match this.
3

beachcomber,

blackpool 04/07/2009 14:52:37
what a waste of money, they look garish and tacky. an empty shop is an empty shop, no matter what you do with it. the council waste so mucn money on daft projects like this instead of actually doing anything positive for this town, they are like the scroungers and "tourism" industry,,,always on the look out for a free handout which means they dont have to do anything , apart from receive money and do nothing.
4

SouthStandGremlin,

04/07/2009 17:13:38
same has been done in the trafford center,however in Blackpool why commission designers,surely there are enough pictures/artists impressions etc of work currently going on to exhibit,show tourists and daytrippers what the town will look like when the builders move away from the prom,burley st,cedar sq etc

get a grip re-Blackpool,lets be realistic and use your budget with some thought !!
5

,

04/07/2009 18:10:42
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
6

jonas,

Locked inside the old wollies building 04/07/2009 19:55:20
Instead of garish designs perhaps photo montages of blackpool throughout the years, celebrating the town that meant so much to the workers of the industrial age and brought holidays within the reach of ordinary folk.
7

chris wilkinson,

04/07/2009 22:04:02
What the council wana do is use the money for the poster and the roswell recreation and invest it into helpin local people into startin and maintainin business
8

,

04/07/2009 22:08:11
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
9

,

04/07/2009 22:22:30
Comment Reported Unsuitable By User
10

LoveVisitingBlackpool,

05/07/2009 04:04:58
They look very slightly better than nothing but they also look what they are - bright signs desperately trying to cover up the fact that there's a empty shop there. It's a shiny, bright gloss over a shabby situation.

As for "Regeneration chiefs hope the colourful vinyl displays will tempt more shoppers and big names into town." - oh please. Nobody goes to a town intending to shop because it has empty shops - BUT empty shops with pretty signs on them! Pretty or not, a closed shop does not attract shoppers.

I know they're trying and the economic situation isn't their fault, but it would be better to save the money than spend it on this kind of gimmick. If this is the best they can do, they should stop pretending they can make a difference and stop spending taxpayers money.
Prev
1
2

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
 
 


Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.