Fynger 841 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 http://www.nottinghampost.com/New-look-Vic-Centre-way/story-20306121-detail/story.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,457 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Vic Centre ain't that bad. It's Broad Marsh which needs sorting out; it's an embarrassment. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barclaycon 569 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I'll second that. Apparently they are going to spend £50 million to try and tart it up. More money down the drain. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poohbear 1,360 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 More and more shops closing because they can't compete with the internet, or afford the stupid rents and business rates.Motorists can't afford exorbitant parking fees or frivolous trips out with the cost of fuel... So what do the council want? More shops in the city centre. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bilboro-lad 294 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 That's because they have to justify the tram that no-one wants. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Walked through the Victoria centre to-day didn't notice much differance ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fynger 841 Posted December 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Y'aint read the article then.....tis to start in the spring. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Oooooops I only looked at the picture & the young lady Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Was in vic centre yesterday, i quite like it how it is, apart from the mirrors! Wouldnt believe how many people iv walked into turning a corner because the mirrors have confused the hell out of me, or maybe thats just me... lol. Also walked through broadmarsh, its depressing, so depressing & quite simply used as a cut through only! Unless, i fancy popping to the cafe near the escilators, coffee + muffin from that place, lovely jubly! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 It's funny cos a few years ago...or maybe more, there was a time when I thought Broad Marsh was the more exciting of the two centres, but the last time I walked through I too thought it was disappointing and depressing, and Victoria was definitely the better of the two. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bubblewrap 3,815 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I did security a few times at Broadmarsh(sick cover) I hated doing days as there was so many idiots about the night shift wasn't too bad though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisB 150 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I've never read such rubbish as that in the link! 'People don't dwell in Victoria Centre because it doesn't have a good food offering' Have they forgotten that it had a very good food court and it was ripped out so more shops could be put in? And presumably because the owners wanted more rental income too! Another issue is that bus passengers have to walk through the centre to get to the bus station. Ok, you can go along Milton Street and in by House of Fraser but that isn't a very good access. Vic Centre had a decent sized bus station and that was ripped out too, the present one isn't really fit for purpose but retailing (and profit) comes before public transport, unfortunately. The main entrance to Victoria, on the corner of Milton St should be re-considered too, it's a bottleneck for people going in opposite directions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 I've never read such rubbish as that in the link! 'People don't dwell in Victoria Centre because it doesn't have a good food offering' Have they forgotten that it had a very good food court and it was ripped out so more shops could be put in? And presumably because the owners wanted more rental income too! Another issue is that bus passengers have to walk through the centre to get to the bus station. Ok, you can go along Milton Street and in by House of Fraser but that isn't a very good access. Vic Centre had a decent sized bus station and that was ripped out too, the present one isn't really fit for purpose but retailing (and profit) comes before public transport, unfortunately. The main entrance to Victoria, on the corner of Milton St should be re-considered too, it's a bottleneck for people going in opposite directions. I for one enjoy going to the cafe at the back of the market, or a coffee in john lewis, or even a subway for something quick! Plenty of cafes and food places around vic centre! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisB 150 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Pixie, I agree with you about the café at the back of the market, I sometimes go there for a coffee. But I'm afraid it's not posh enough for the developers with the big ideas! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted December 12, 2013 Report Share Posted December 12, 2013 Pixie, I agree with you about the café at the back of the market, I sometimes go there for a coffee. But I'm afraid it's not posh enough for the developers with the big ideas! May not be posh, but its welcoming, no one looks at you funny when you walk in (had that at john lewis a few times!!) most people dont want 'posh' we just want somewhere friendly! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bazza 71 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 The last time I was in the Vic.Centre (2010) there was a lack of seats for anybody who wanted or needed them.Some good take away food shops though but where could you sit to eat.................. Broad marsh is a different story.Places to sit but not many people to sit in those places. Why would there be.It's a total disaster. They should bulldoze Arkwright street through the way it was many years ago. Baz Quote Link to post Share on other sites
darkazana 1,736 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 We usually go to Druckers just upstairs by the escalator at the Milton St end. Does yummy cakes and good coffee. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MELTONSTILTON 452 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 They want to be careful when they install the entrance to the centre that changes colours, because they might get all the local druggies sat around, thinking it is the best free Psychedelic high in town... 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,457 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I'm sure there must be a plan regarding what is going on at B Marsh. I go through there every 2-3 weeks and the place is well over 50% empty. But every time a unit becomes vacant, there is no attempt to advertise it or get someone else to occupy it; so the Centre owners are obviously deliberately running the place down until they get to the point where no-one is left. They are just waiting until all the leases come to an end, then they will presumably move in and rebuild the place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Pixie 162 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 I think bmarsh has a lot of potential, I remember as a kid being dragged around town to do the crimbo shopping and bmarsh was always heaving and full of decent shops. All they have to do is get the shops full again & give the centre a face life. surely many people would be happy with just that, Itd be cheaper and they'd be getting more money coming in. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,088 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 The whole area between Broadmarsh and the station need sorting. Either demolish the lot (particularly the awful 60s/70s buildings) or spend a decent amount tarting it up. What impression do visitors to Nottm get when they come by train when the first they see are grubby, run-down, depressing and empty buildings? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barclaycon 569 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Couldn't have said it better myself Rob ! Pixie: I don't think the proposed £50 million face lift is going to restore Broadmarsh to anything like its early years. First of all, people don't have the disposable income that they did then. Shoppers aren't prefering the internet just because of convenience - cost is a major factor. Secondly, the shop rents and business rates are so excessive now that retailers aren't queuing up to get in there. Even if they did, they would have to charge absurdly high prices. Thirdly - getting there. Driving in is a nightmare and very costly. Parking is a joke. Tram or bus? Still very expensive and really not very convenient. Finally, the place is a dump. It's been a dump for a long time and it looks crap. I really don't see that they are going to shake off that reputation and get the folks to come flooding back. My preferred option would be to level it and restore the route to a thoroughfare to Arkwright Street. But that's never going to happen. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisB 150 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 My preferred option would be to level it and restore the route to a thoroughfare to Arkwright Street. But that's never going to happen. I often think that but the main thing against it is the exceptionally busy Collin Street cutting across it. I think Broad Marsh suffers because it doesn't have a big draw. It had a big department store which was originally the Co-op (less said about them, the better!) then it was Allders but since they folded, there's nothing to attract people in, pound shops and cheap rubbish shops won't do it. Strange really, because it's in a prime position, close to the rail station and main bus station but it's poorly designed and not very attractive to either shoppers or businesses. Perhaps the best thing would be to put it out of it's misery and pull it down! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rob.L 1,088 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 It would be fairly easy to cut Collin Street off from through traffic by making Canal Street two-way again and reconfiguring the road layout around the bottom of Maid Marion Way. And seeing as Broadmarsh car park is mostly empty those days as people can't afford to park there, the council could cut their losses and close it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hippo girl 1,995 Posted December 13, 2013 Report Share Posted December 13, 2013 Pull down the broadmarsh centre and car park , return canal street to a two way street is the best option......what could the council do with the land ? turn it into something to make us proud, and inspire visitors as they leave the station ...... Any ideas Nottstalgians ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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