Ben Mitchell would like Wilkinsons to come to Bracknell
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What Bracknell thinks: Town centre shops
January 27, 2012
Last week fashion chain Peacocks announced it was going into administration, while budget shop Poundland is moving into The Peel Centre this week.
We asked our panel their thoughts on how shops in Bracknell have fared during the economic downturn and what shops they would like to see in the town.
Jo Illott of Crowthorne: “I think Bracknell could do with a lovely coffee shop where you can get a nice sandwich or lunch and a coffee. Costa just isn’t quite big enough.
“I would also love to see a Primark and a Hobby Craft store.”
Pat Kennewell, of Birch Hill and Hanworth Liaison Group: “I think this is really sad for Bracknell. Peacocks sell a range of cheaper end clothes for all the family, plus housewares.
“I am sorry that yet another Poundland-type outlet is coming to Bracknell as we already have a number already, none of which sell the type of the things that Peacocks do. You can only buy so many kitchen utensils, shampoos and batteries etc.
“Bracknell should be looking at some diversity to attract people in from outlying areas, not aiming for the cheapest end of the markets.
“We need some vision and imagination that would make the regeneration of Bracknell into something feasible instead of the pie in the sky that it has been for so many years. What retailer would want to come here?
“Also, The Peel Centre is a place to be avoided on Friday and Saturday as there is no parking.”
Winkfield artist and author Jonathan Greenyer: “The recession is just the latest factor, and not the most dramatic, to contribute to the long term decline of Bracknell town centre as a shopping venue. Let’s face it – it’s a dump.
“Piecemeal changes like a new Poundland are not going to halt the inevitable. Does Bracknell need a shopping centre at all? It has managed for so long without one why not just take the concept one stage further? Option one would be to replace the town centre with housing; all those so called ‘essential’ houses that are planned for Binfield and Warfield. Build a few key shops amongst the new developments.
“Option two, the exact opposite; move all those retail outlets you find sprinkled throughout the commercial areas back into the town centre, together with new family residential areas, community facilities, supermarkets, leisure facilities, specialist outlets.
“Option three, knock down the northern end of the town centre and build a vast outlet village (like Bicester) with covered walkways bars, restaurants.”
Ben Mitchell, Year 10 Easthampstead Park School pupil: “Everywhere you look you can see empty shop fronts that were once thriving with people but it seems all the major shops have just left.
“It also doesn’t help that Bracknell’s shops are very spread out so although we may have a lot of shops within the town centre, it looks like a lot less as you have so much space between each part of the town.
“I would like a Wilkinsons as they are very cheap and sell a variety of things.”
Most recent user comments 2 of 2
@Ben a lot of the empty shop fronts are because the buildings are "about" to be redeveloped and the owners will not rent them out on sensible terms.
@Jonathan it think you are half right, we should build just housing in the town centre but with the internet making retail obsolete, perhaps we just shouldn't bother. What a modern town needs is a great delivery services based on good infrastructure and we seem to have that. I don't think we need new big brand shops from the global brands, what we need is small independent retailers in secondary areas.
IMHO the only things Bracknell needs:
Some top notch and diverse restaurants. Greek, Italian, Lebanese, Vegetarian, French, Japanese, Mexican.
The removal or refurbishment of the decrepit buildings in the town centre.
A few of the buildings have great iconic features, and I think that the wholesale destruction of the entire initial development of Bracknell is the destruction of what will be part of the town heritage in future and it would be nice to preserve a few jewels, the library/Easthampstead house which are icons of modular construction in concrete, the wall decoration on the building opposite Oxfam/Charity shops.
I think it is a shame that organic development was not seen as an option, the massive wholesale redevelopment is a boom and bust cycle that will result in another bust in 50 years time for the town.
Wouldn't it be typical if Bracknell was to build a huge new retail town centre, just as the bottom fell out of retailling and the internet took over. Maybe what we should have is free community broadband low cost industrial units which would be a magnet for internet retailers and we could be the first town to abandon having a large retail centre.
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