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‘Town is in tatters’
Devastated traders claim Halesowen's £25million regeneration has "completely ruined" the town centre.
The claim has been made by David Holmes, manager of Holmes furniture on High Street, who has announced he will close his popular store at the end of the month because of spiralling rent costs.
His decision follows hot on the heels of Walter Smith's butchers, who left their store in the Cornbow Centre last month.
Both businesses claim their plight has been made worse by the reduction in customers while renovation work takes place.
David, who opened his store more than a decade ago, said his decision had been forced after landlords raised the rent and revealed the stress of the situation had even caused him to suffer a heart attack.
David said: "If we still had the numbers coming through the door we may have been able to cope but we have had no chance.
"They have completely ruined this town with what they have done to the roads and the traffic. I would not come to this town unless I worked here.
"The landlords have seen an opportunity - they think there are going to be big golden eggs laid by the new ASDA store.
"It won't - all it will lay is little brown ones."
David said he was aware of other businesses who are waiting for leases to finish before quitting the town.
Andrew Ayres, chief executive of Walter Smith's butchers, said he did not believe the situation would improve after the regeneration is completed later this year.
Andrew said: "We could not have made a living going forward with the rent which was being asked.
"I cannot see ASDA being a help to any of the small businesses in Halesowen, they are more likely to be a hindrance.
"A large supermarket open in the midst of a town centre has never done any good for others.
"It certainly won't do any good for other traders in Halesowen and that is very sad."
Adrian Oliver, director of Vale Retail which owns the Cornbow shopping centre, said he was sorry to see businesses leave but claimed new busineses were coming in to occupy empty units.
He said they had entered into an extensive consultation period before the start of the regeneration work.
He said: "It's a shame that now the works are almost complete a small number of people have lost sight of that forward-thinking optimism.
"The redevelopment of Halesowen had been part of local authority and government planning policy for ten years before we even started work."
Steve Fitzpatrick, chair of Halesowen Chamber of Trade, admitted works on Queensway had caused a shift in the "gravity" of the town centre but claimed traders must adapt to meet the challenge.
Steve said: "Those of us with a long-term interest in Halesowen appreciate we must weather the short-term pain in order to benefit from the long-term gain.
"Walter Smith's closure hasn't happened overnight. Over a number of years, shopping patterns have changed.
"It's the stores which rise to the challenges these works present which will reap the benefits in the long-term."
Do you agree with the view Halesowen town centre has been "completely ruined" since work on the regeneration began? Post a comment or vote in our web ballot.
4:26pm Thursday 20th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: clent-rambler, Halesowen on 3:12pm Fri 21 Mar 08
How can Vail Retail say that the works are almost complete when residents are still walking through a building site? Small businesses will never come back to the town to compete with Asda, locals have been sold a pup! Charges for parking, rents have driven trade from the town, people will not return when they have taken their custom else where. It is also worth pointing out the number of locals that have no interest what so ever in shopping at Asda! Have you seen the poor folks struggling around the town to various bus stops up Church Croft with shopping bags, the pensioners are out of breath! All I can say for the building to Vale is that all you see is 3 men looking down a hole, because you NEVER see anyone doing any grafting, no wonder it has taken an age to get to one wall being erected.
How can Vail Retail say that the works are almost complete when residents are still walking through a building site? Small businesses will never come back to the town to compete with Asda, locals have been sold a pup! Charges for parking, rents have driven trade from the town, people will not return when they have taken their custom else where. It is also worth pointing out the number of locals that have no interest what so ever in shopping at Asda! Have you seen the poor folks struggling around the town to various bus stops up Church Croft with shopping bags, the pensioners are out of breath! All I can say for the building to Vale is that all you see is 3 men looking down a hole, because you NEVER see anyone doing any grafting, no wonder it has taken an age to get to one wall being erected.
Posted by: Pat Bailey on 3:33pm Fri 21 Mar 08
I completely agree the town has gone down the pan. What a shame lovely town. The parking is a nightmare. You would think because of the mess it all has caused at least they would have made free parking !!. I feel sorry for all the shopkeepers that are left, and like what has been said already the town will never come back.
I completely agree the town has gone down the pan. What a shame lovely town. The parking is a nightmare. You would think because of the mess it all has caused at least they would have made free parking !!. I feel sorry for all the shopkeepers that are left, and like what has been said already the town will never come back.
Posted by: wendenr, halesowen on 10:32pm Fri 21 Mar 08
I to feel sorry for the small shops, both those who have already felt the brunt of it and those left who probably will when ASDA comes. I must admit though we do need a supermarket and ASDA is as good as any. I agree that the parking should have been free I think this would have helped the town somewhat. I protested when the prices wend up and have not used the carpark since. The building work does get you angry at times with some unnecessary situations. I work in Halesowen town centre and we have seen a difference but unfortunately progress has to happen.[quote]quote[/quote]
I to feel sorry for the small shops, both those who have already felt the brunt of it and those left who probably will when ASDA comes. I must admit though we do need a supermarket and ASDA is as good as any. I agree that the parking should have been free I think this would have helped the town somewhat. I protested when the prices wend up and have not used the carpark since. The building work does get you angry at times with some unnecessary situations. I work in Halesowen town centre and we have seen a difference but unfortunately progress has to happen.
quote
Posted by: Peter J Hensman, Halesowen on 11:53am Sat 22 Mar 08
I read with great interest the article in this weeks paper Where Andrew Ayres said "he did not believe the situation would improve after the regeneration work is completed" I agree with him entirely. I am old enough to remember the old Halesowen, before they destroyed that in the sixties. It did indeed need bringing into the twentieth century. This monstrosity goes well beyond what was required.To hike up the rents is also a wasy of getting rid of the old shops or ones that the company Vale Retail do not consider to be of consequence to their project. Huge stores have never prospered inside developments such as this. It will not be long before someone from the planning authority decides to cover over the lovely old church as in the Eden Project, because it no long fits into the pile of steel that is the new development. It is hoped that one day, planners may actually use their eyes as well as their brains, and see the beauty that is our green and pleasant land belongs to all of us to enjoy. I for one will not be using this monstrosity, because I do enjoy seeing local traders plying there wares as they are and always have been to the benefit of all commers
not bigger and better. Many thanks to David Holmes and Andrew Ayres for bringing this to out attention.
I read with great interest the article in this weeks paper Where Andrew Ayres said "he did not believe the situation would improve after the regeneration work is completed" I agree with him entirely. I am old enough to remember the old Halesowen, before they destroyed that in the sixties. It did indeed need bringing into the twentieth century. This monstrosity goes well beyond what was required.To hike up the rents is also a wasy of getting rid of the old shops or ones that the company Vale Retail do not consider to be of consequence to their project. Huge stores have never prospered inside developments such as this. It will not be long before someone from the planning authority decides to cover over the lovely old church as in the Eden Project, because it no long fits into the pile of steel that is the new development. It is hoped that one day, planners may actually use their eyes as well as their brains, and see the beauty that is our green and pleasant land belongs to all of us to enjoy. I for one will not be using this monstrosity, because I do enjoy seeing local traders plying there wares as they are and always have been to the benefit of all commers
not bigger and better. Many thanks to David Holmes and Andrew Ayres for bringing this to out attention.
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