Taking on Trump...

[Lime]

My mother-in-law enjoys her golf, is pretty good at it too winning many competitions, but I can't stand either.
There is an argument that golf courses can prevent the ordinary public "enjoying" i.e. damaging sand dunes etc. which is good for the environment but I don't think that is an issue in this case.
As for supermarkets I think market towns have caused much of the damage to themselves.
Much as it may disappoint shopkeepers the public is not tied down to a small area any longer so can select where they shop rather than putting up with what they have locally.
Often local shopkeepers (and I know several of them) think the public owe them a living at any price while attempting to live the life of Riley spending as much time abroad as they can.
There are some small shops still offering a terrific service but they cannot compete directly with cheaper outlets, often other shops not supermarkets, so have to specialise.. often leading to a dead end and their demise.
I live in a relatively deprived/poor area that still has market towns with one or two old-style departmental shops.
In general they are run with both the public and staff in mind much like Grace Brothers on TV.

Unfortunately many more old-style shops have now closed down and been redeveloped in the last 20 years.. the local council almost jumping for joy that their old town buildings (some 17th century) where being knocked down and concrete and plastic thrown up to replace them.
A whole area of modern shops where once ancient buildings stood has never been let in 20 years. They have been let out as flats instead or used for storage.
That has nothing to do with Tesco or any other supermarket of which the towns fight tooth and nail to prevent.
It is much more to do with vested interest of shopkeepers/owners attempting to make as much money as they can no matter what happens.

 

[Nemesis]

Well, here's My Glancey on Trump today:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3126821&origin=BDweeklydigest

and Hadleigh:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=430&storycode=3112140

and a number of responses:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/search_results.asp


Yes, so often the problem is the tearing down of historic buildings - as planned in Lancaster, as went ahead in Carlisle for the Lanes.

A whole area of buildings dating back to mediaeval times was torn down for this unpleasant mall. Properly regenerated, this could have been an area like York Shambles or Chester. Instead, it's noisy and full of clone shops. But as a sweetener the developers built a library so that's OK, and yes there's a piece of 'public art' so that's OK too.


There was some correspondence in the local press about it in the past couple of weeks - naturally one of those involved in the destruction was harping about rat infestation and poor state of repair of buildings (many left to rot by the council of course).

http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/opinion/your_view/lanes_development_was_vital_for_city

http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/opinion/your_view/1.260009




Now part of the regeneration is to make a 'historic quarter' - with what is left around the cathedral. It could all have been so much better.

 

[Penners]

I'd have to look at Hadleigh

You would be well rewarded for doing so. John Betjeman described it as "one of the most perfect small towns in England, with trees, old red brick, flint and plaster and that unassuming beauty of East Anglia that changes to glory in sunlight".

 

[Nemesis]

But it will be OK as the walls of the new mega Tesco will be painted Suffolk Pink.

Look at how well it blend in:

http://www.suffolkfreepress.co.uk/news/Hadleigh--Tesco-submit-store.3791073.jp

http://www.brett-works.co.uk/cgi_01.html

Wigton - a tad shabby and somewhere time forgot, thankfully, but for those with eyes to see and the heart to appreciate, it's lovely, just needs a spot of tidying really:

http://www.visitcumbria.com/wc/wigton.htm

But not without its problems:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/teenagers-kick-against-police-curfew-imposed-in-the-town-at-heart-of-melvyn-bragg-country-558733.html

It has its own illustrious Lord:

http://www.leeds.ac.uk/press/chancellor/bragg.htm

Wigton


Wigton, a thriving market town, lies at the edge of the Lake District National Park between the Caldbeck Fells and the Solway coast. This ancient settlement on the Solway Plain boasts a pre-medieval layout.

Wigton recieved a market charter in 1262 and its marketplace became town's centre. The buildings around this triangular open space are mainly Georgian and many of the upper storeys remain unchanged.

The King's Arms Hotel was once a coaching inn and Charles Dickens stayed here with Wilkie Collins in 1857. In the marketplace is an elaborate granite fountain, erected in 1872 by George Moore in memory of his wife. The memorial features four fine bronze reliefs, depicting the Acts of Mercey, by the Pre-Raphaelite sculptor Thomas Woolner.

Lord Melvyn Bragg, the writer and broadcaster, was born in Wigton in 1939.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wigton

 

[shelli]

Wigton is a dump - sorry but it is - very down at heel - typically miserable west cumbrian place with similarly miserable people. - they might as well build a tesco there -the cheery neon sign and busy car park will brighten the place up no end and the local school leavers can get weekend jobs there, save up and escape from the place - perhaps moving as far as Silloth or possibly Aspatria.

Architecture is fine - but as for it being a "thriving Market town" - Hmm

NB - I bet Bragg doesn't go back much

 

[Penners]

it will be OK as the walls of the new mega Tesco will be painted Suffolk Pink.

Phew! That's such a relief. For a while I was worried that it would look like a hideous eyesore. A monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much-loved and elegant friend.

I'm really proud of that phrase - I must remember to copyright it.

 

[skier-hughes]

Wigton is a small market town with a distinctive old-world character struggling to maintain the vibrancy of its existing shopping centre.

Over the last 10 years several long-standing businesses offering white goods, good quality shoes, and furnishings have disappeared as owners retired or leases came to an end. These much-needed businesses have not been replaced by comparable outlets and in some cases shops are still empty months or even years later.



Wigton - a tad shabby and somewhere time forgot, thankfully, but for those with eyes to see and the heart to appreciate, it's lovely, just needs a spot of tidying really:


Wigton, a thriving market town, lies at the edge of the Lake District National Park between the Caldbeck Fells and the Solway coast. This ancient settlement on the Solway Plain boasts a pre-medieval layout.

Erm, a little at odds with each other there

 

[Nemesis]

Well, it depends if you are local and honest or writing bumph to attract tourists.

Some lovely buildings, but far removed from wealthy middle classdom in the main.