| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:The long slow decline of Devonshire Road | |
| Posted by: | Jeremy Parkinson | |
| Date/Time: | 26/07/23 09:07:00 |
| The emphasis of my original post was on the way the encroachment of residential use has made things more difficult for the remaining businesses on Devonshire Road. I don't see how anyone can dispute this because hospitality businesses have entirely disappeared from south of Ingress Street. There is a planning application currently with the council for another change of use from commercial with residential. With residential prices inflated and the huge demand for housing combined with the massive cost pressures and state of the economy for retailers, there is no reason to believe that this long slow trend won't continue. I didn't mean the thread to become about parking but just pointed out that unenforced access restrictions deliver the worst of both world's for local businesses. It would have not been incorrect for anyone to conclude from that, that enforcement is one possible solution to be considered. The important thing that we should all agree on is that this shopping street is hugely valuable to the area and should be nurtured and protected. I find the notion that because some research in other areas suggests that some traders might have overestimated the importance of parking to their business means that the opinion of our local traders has less value to be a dangerous one that could be used to justify dogmatic measures against the interest of businesses. Thankfully, I don't think the council accept the validity of the contention that business people don't know their own business. We should ABSOLUTELY listen to what they say and whatever measures are delivered should be primarily decided by them. If they collectively opted for arrangements that were much more restrictive of vehicles using the road I'd be delighted. I think it can be stated with some confidence that nobody is content with the way things currently are. |