[BBC News] Town shops to get government help

[Mission]

Additional parking would be great - I still firmly believe if there were more long term parking (ie all day) in the town then the spaces in the shopping district would be readily available throughout the course of the day.

 

As it is, you often see people nipping out to move their cars (when the traffic warden is in town) or simply re-set their discs during the day.

[manxy]

I see this as a positive step, I for one won't be knocking it.

 

Rather than ignoring the problem, something is being done about it, which I fully support.

Fully agree with you Mission

 

 

On a slightly different note....

Would it be possible for the IOM to have their own website, that incorporates individual shops? (I think it was Roger who mentioned about the internet and web based sites)

For instance, The heading could be IOM Shopping. Shops could be broken down into different categories, food stuffs, toys, something like that and a little like the phone directory.

For those shopkeepers who don't know how to do web sites, then maybe web site designers could be used, or the Government have easy to use web site designs.

I also agree with Albert about planning and infrastructure and hopefully they are taking that on board.

 

Another suggestion for slam dunking...............

[bluemonday]

You need a pedestrian precinct. We've all talked about it on here before but sweet FA has been done.

 

I can't be arsed going there anymore as I'm sick to death of negotiating narrow pavements whilst keeping one eye on the traffic to avoid getting knocked down.

 

How hard is it to actually do something instead of talk talk talk?

 

 

A few signs and some road paint.

 

 

Yet it ain't happening.

[Mission]

I'm not keen on pedestrianisation tbh - not unless we get a multi-storey carpark at least.

 

There'd also have to be some flexibility on deliveries as it's hard enough getting stuff to Ramsey without putting a Strand Street-esque no deliveries after 10am block on things.

[Rocketman]

I see this as a positive step, I for one won't be knocking it.

 

Rather than ignoring the problem, something is being done about it, which I fully support.

Fully agree with you Mission

 

 

On a slightly different note....

Would it be possible for the IOM to have their own website, that incorporates individual shops? (I think it was Roger who mentioned about the internet and web based sites)

For instance, The heading could be IOM Shopping. Shops could be broken down into different categories, food stuffs, toys, something like that and a little like the phone directory.

For those shopkeepers who don't know how to do web sites, then maybe web site designers could be used, or the Government have easy to use web site designs.

I also agree with Albert about planning and infrastructure and hopefully they are taking that on board.

 

Another suggestion for slam dunking...............

 

If you read, the official DTi press release, theyre planning that too it would seem.

[bluemonday]

I'm not keen on pedestrianisation tbh - not unless we get a multi-storey carpark at least.

 

There'd also have to be some flexibility on deliveries as it's hard enough getting stuff to Ramsey without putting a Strand Street-esque no deliveries after 10am block on things.

 

Yes but consider this, it's one of the reasons people won't come.

However the solution is arrived at, it needs to be looked at.

 

I ( a customer ) am telling you ( a retailer ) what I would like to see in order to get me and others to shop in Ramsey.

Pedestrian precincts are able to function both to buyer and sellers reasonable satisfaction in most other places in the known universe.

So why not Ramsey?

 

You need to be asking people why they're not shopping there not what suits the shopkeepers.

If you don't take on board what people want, you can't moan when tumbleweeds start rolling.

[Mission]

That's all well and good but if we can't get stuff delivered in the first place we'd have nothing to sell.

 

I'm not against the idea, it just needs to be done right.

 

It's the same with the parking, if you're going to take all of the spaces in the street away, you need to replace them and the best way for that (least amount of land used) is a small multi-storey carpark.

[bluemonday]

That's all well and good but if we can't get stuff delivered in the first place we'd have nothing to sell.

 

I'm not against the idea, it just needs to be done right.

 

It's the same with the parking, if you're going to take all of the spaces in the street away, you need to replace them and the best way for that (least amount of land used) is a small multi-storey carpark.

 

Let's be brutally frank here.

A multi storey won't happen unless its PFI.

It goes against the gov principle rule - well one of them.

Thou shalt not spend SFA on anywhere in the twilight zone ( viz outside Douglas )

 

I see the delivery question - solution perhaps make it PZ 10 - 6? or even 12 - 6?

[sarahc]

I'm not keen on pedestrianisation tbh - not unless we get a multi-storey carpark at least.

 

There'd also have to be some flexibility on deliveries as it's hard enough getting stuff to Ramsey without putting a Strand Street-esque no deliveries after 10am block on things.

 

 

I bet if there was a time limit for parking outside for deliveries then Manx Indy and the rest would make sure they were there on time. It would be that or having to lug stuff down the street themselves.

[Overdose]

I'm not keen on pedestrianisation tbh - not unless we get a multi-storey carpark at least.

 

There'd also have to be some flexibility on deliveries as it's hard enough getting stuff to Ramsey without putting a Strand Street-esque no deliveries after 10am block on things.

 

Preferably one built underground, at an easy to find location and easy access to the main street......like Albert Road school maybe?

[boog]

Suggest planning, using a little of our new found marketing skillset from the business school who should know as well as any UK consultancy the "segment-target-position" addage.

 

For example, actually targetting customers to a selected area of the shopping district. The point being to create shopping spaces for like minded people who may then want to socialise.

 

Tower House was interesting when it started, but rents are far too ambitious (and coffee shop too poor) to attract the right cluster of businesses.

 

UK consultants don't care about the island, but are 'safe' for politicians and the civil service in general in terms of the associated risks of projects*. The Government are trading off one for the other.

 

* there shouldn't be any risk, so long as the recommendations are based on evidence and good analysis and not personal politics. This report is weak, but doesn't appear to have any political biases.

[Rocketman]

This post is nothing to do with the Island Retail Consultation ! This is to do with consultancy help by a manx based expert for Ramsey.

[Twitch]

This post is nothing to do with the Island Retail Consultation ! This is to do with consultancy help by a manx based expert for Ramsey.

 

...an expert who actually lives in Ramsey

[Foxtrotlima]

I think it is a great incentive for local businesses, and hopefully a welcome one too.

 

With regards to pedestrianisation of Parliament Street, I have to admit to being dead against it. You only have to look at the demographic profile of the town to realise that it won't work. It would automatically exclude a relatively small but high spending proportion of people that shop in the main street and its immediate vicinity. It could well be the push that would make them go "out of town" to the larger supermarkets, and that is seemingly counter productive.

 

I guess there are pros and cons against that statement, but I think it would be very difficult to weigh up gain versus loss on doing such a venture.

 

I have recently found myself in a position where I am unable to walk very far, but can drive my car easily. I used to go out of town to do my shopping but have a new found respect for local businesses as I can actually get everything I need on a day to day basis by being able to park in the main street, and the prices are actually very competitive if you take the time to look.

 

Am I too far off the mark here? I have a tendency to over analyse but I would really welcome some much needed injection of the regeneration of Ramsey as a shopping center.

[thesultanofsheight]

I'm not keen on pedestrianisation tbh

 

You live in Ramsey and you're not too keen on pedestrianisation? There is one old boy who owns a 1956 Austin Somerset who drives into town from Andreas. Everyone else has to walk (some on their hind legs) on the pavements to buy their provisions in town. The only option is pedestrianisation.

 

I'm thinking of opening a Gary Glitter memorabilia and Pot Noodle shop in Parliament Sqaure.