I like this new bit of neogeography, ‘Who is sick?’ allows you to place your symptoms on a google map anonymously. No-one has been sick according to the map in Ilkeston, but over the last eight weeks in Nottingham, 14 people have been ill with the most common symptoms being muscle ache, cough and running nose. Just a bit of fun, but something you could fill in when you fall ill… 

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One of my favourite Saturday morning tasks is to relax and catch up with the news. I particularly enjoy NewsWatch with Roy Snoddy (Great name ), there was a piece on the programme about several geographical mistakes made on the B.B.C news, incorrectly stating that the capital of Turkey is Istanbul and making various spelling mistakes of place names. Nice quote from Roy…

‘We’ve noticed in the past that Geography is not always a strong point with B.B.C. producers.’

The programme can be watched again online.

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Have a good rest because coursework starts on Monday, ok, Tuesday then…..

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So what can the High Street do to counter the threat of cloning and out-of-town shopping? Well, the most effective way has been to redevelop their consumer landscape so that it mimics the features of out-of-town shopping.

Nottingham is a successful example of a C.B.D (Central Business District), that has rebranded itself in the face of competition, by encouraging economic diversification, whilst improving its environment through regeneration and gentrification.

So what has Nottingham achieved?

Access

Remember good access will reduced the friction of distance, attracting people from a wider catchment area.

• Over four thousand parking spaces.
• Good public transport links, two buses companies, a Rapid Transit System (with expansion plans), Park and Rides, and good rail links to regional and national cities.
• Bus lanes, to encourage people out of their cars during the daily commute and encourage shoppers at peak times.
• Two major bus stations.
• 260 licensed taxi, particularly important for those entertainment seekers.
• A good network of cycle routes.

Shopping

Nottingham is the third strongest retail centre in the country.

• Two undercover shopping centres, Victoria and Broadmarsh. Broadmarsh is ready to begin redevelopment.
• One undercover arcade in the Council House, housing niche and exclusive shops.
• A wide range of brand name multiples and exclusive niche designer outlets in a relatively small area.

Environment

Remember an attractive consumer landscape will attract shoppers, more shoppers means higher thresholds, thereby attracting big named multiples and niche brand shops to the city.

• A £7 million pound redevelopment of the Old Market Place.
• Historic building facades have been restored.
• There are strict planning controls on buildings that might change the skyline of the city.
• Pedestrianisation of major shopping routes, .I.e from Victoria to Broadmarsh.
• Over a 1000 bins, morning street cleaning and on the spot fines for litter droppers.
• Public art.
• Vegetation, it looks nice and makes people feel better. Nottingham has won the title ‘City in Bloom’ many times..
• Street Furniture, all uniform and Victorian in theme, embossed with the city crest.
• Water features and fountains.
• A regeneration of the canal area, a nice separation of the Law Courts and Inland Revenue on one side and bars on the other!
• Public facilities such as toilets.

Safety

Despite recent events, Nottingham is in my opinion a safe city, this has been aided by

• CCTV
• Street Wardens.
• Good lighting.

Leisure and Entertainment.

The city has also attempted to develop a twenty-hour population, by encouraging the consumer to come to the city not only in the day, but at night and into early in the morning!

• Multi-screen cinema.
• A range of pubs, bars and clubs, Nottingham is the top Stag and Hen destination.
• Licensed street artists.
• Theatre Royal, Concert Hall and the Playhouse.
• The National Ice Arena.
• Restaurants.
• A test match cricket ground.
• Two league football clubs. Random facts coming up! Notts County is the oldest football club in the world, whilst Nottingham Forest and Notts County are also the closest football rivals in the world!

Tourism

The city has also made much of its heritage, diversifying its consumer base.

• Nottingham Castle
• Tales of Robin Hood and Galleries of Justice.
• Old pubs such as the Trip to Jerusalem.
• Nottingham Caves.
• Lace Market.

Nottingham has attempted to maintain much of its original heritage, not demolished by post-modern town planners, see environment.

Special Events

Special events provide the consumer with another reason to visit the city, instead of for work and shopping, whilst in the city they might also visit shops and use services.

• Live music
• Themed markets
• Funfairs
• open air art installations.

Two questions,

How does Ilkeston compete?

What has Ilkeston done to its own environment to mimic the features of out-of-town shopping?

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Thanks for the outstanding work, looks nice quality as well…

(Image courtesy of flickr user Hedgeman.)

The arrival of the Tesco superstore close to Lower Bath Street has generated passionate debate, is Tesco good or bad for Ilkeston?

Positive

People argue

• Tesco has provided valuable service jobs in an area where traditional manufacturing has declined. See posts on Stanton.
• that the store has widened the appeal of Ilkeston, raised its status, the store has a high threshold and was drawn shoppers from across the local area.
• that as a result of Tesco, shoppers also visit Ilkeston High Street,
• That Tesco will encourage the regeneration of Lower Bath Street, as businesses hope to cash in on business by association.
• Tesco is a good neighbour, investing in the development of infrastructure and footpaths around the site, as well contributing to local community projects.

Negative

People argue

• The location of Tesco in Ilkeston has resulted in a decline in trade for independent stores, and resulted in the decline of the Morrisons store, an important anchor for the multiples of Upper Bath Street.
• As a result, employment has been lost.
• Consumers also have less choice.
• Those who visit Tesco, don’t walk into Ilkeston, who really wants to walk the hill? Alternatively, drive to a car park and pay for the pleasure.
• The bypass has effectively cut the town in two, people will just drive to Tesco with ease, avoiding Ilkeston.
• Tesco doesn’t cater for everyone, the elderly may have to use public transport or taxis, remember the eight pound taxi fare! (Tesco has provided a free bus service to the store in the past- does this still happen?)
• Tesco doesn’t reinvest its profits in Ilkeston, as a national company it uses national rather than local contractors, the profits ‘leak’ elsewhere. 
• Traders were also unhappy with the mezzo level to the store being developed, nicely getting around planning regulations. It allowed Tesco to stock a wider range of goods, thereby creating more competition for the High Street.
• As for the regeneration of Lower Bath Street, the evidence is there to see!

Anything I’ve missed…

What is your opinion?

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Tomorrow are the local elections, you can probably guess where my vote is going, but can you spot any familiar faces below? Answers on a postcard…

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Sorry, I’m a bit behind on the blogging posts, about two lessons, thanks for a great lesson this afternoon.   I’ll catch up over the bank holiday weekend.

Still waiting to give some coursework marks back, but I’m waiting on the final pieces of homework to be handed in on changing shopping habits.   I know that many of you are pleased with your coursework marks, if not, we need to reflect on your weak areas and think about how we can improve these for the next piece of coursework, which starts on Monday!

You might also want to have a look at Mr P’s blog, his students are finishing their final piece of coursework and also preparing for the exam, that they are doing this year!

So cloning…

According to the New Economics Foundation, Britain’s High Streets are at risk of becoming clone towns at the expense of traditional independent stores. They argue that the High Streets are increasingly becoming identikit, they lack character as they become more similar, often referred to as homogenisation.

A clone town can be defined as a High Street that is dominated by multiples.

But why is this such a problem?

• Multiples will take business away from independent stores, therefore resulting in their closure. (See what can large supermarkets offer us? )
• This may result in a loss of employment, though balanced with the employment supplied by multiples.
• Critics argue this results in a loss of choice for the consumer.
• A lack of competition might also be bad for the consumer, it may result in higher prices.
• Money that the multiples earn often doesn’t remain local, as they are national companies, the profits ‘leak’ elsewhere.
• Aesthetically, critics suggest that the environment becomes dull and repetitive, as the same old familiar shop frontages can be seen, the environment loses it’s character.

The New Economics Foundation also suggests two other classifications for High Streets.

Border Towns, those that have a mixture of traditional independent and multiples stores.

Home Towns, those that have retained their traditional character, without the significant encroachment of multiples.

Bangor is supposedly an example of a Home Town, a theory that we will be testing in July!

Next time, what has Tesco done for Ilkeston?

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Hat-tip Helen.

 

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