Empty shops in Wallingford prompt warning

6:20pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Andrew Ffrench, covering Didcot and Wallingford. Call me on 01865 425425

A TRADERS’ leader is warning the number of empty shop units in Wallingford will continue to grow if the former Waitrose store remains unoccupied.

Elaine Hornsby, of traders’ group Wallingford in Business, issued the warning after a survey revealed that the number of empty shops has jumped by six since last year.

The survey conducted in January by South Oxfordshire District Council found the number of empty units in Wallingford has risen from nine to 15.

Ms Hornsby said: “It’s now crucial for the Co-op to press ahead with its plans to open a new store on the site of the former Waitrose in St Martin’s Street.”

The Co-operative Group was given planning permission in November for its £1.5 plan for a convenience store and seven flats.

But bosses warned they might withdraw their plans if Morrisons is given permission for a new store on the Hithercroft estate.

Council economic development manager Suzanne Malcolm said: “We hope the Co-op will come forward but we haven’t had any detailed discussions on a timescale for when they might start the store.”

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Comments(9)

belgarion says...
3:33am Fri 22 Mar 13

Do I detect self-interest under a guise of concern for the town from Elaine Hornsby? Isn’t her expensive gift shop opposite the old Waitrose building?

Now I wonder who would be a major beneficiary if shoppers again exited the Waitrose building opposite her shop window.

Sadly, it’s Elaine Hornsby and her fellow traders who would deny what the vast majority of people in Wallingford want and that’s a new Morrisons at Hithercroft.

The interests of the majority sacrificed for the individual profit of the few.

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Cedarox says...
6:46am Fri 22 Mar 13

Surely the fact that there are already nine empty units need to be addressed first?

Morrisons didn't put those out of business so I'm struggling to see how it would impact any more.

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LeeUpcraft says...
7:10am Fri 22 Mar 13

Town, District and County Councils need to pull their fingers out, bang their heads together and come up with sensible, coherent plans to attract small businesses our market towns.

Does Wallingford need another town centre supermarket? Where is the parking to go? People are not going to fight to drive into town and park in overcrowded town centre car-parks to shop at a tiny, poorly stocked Co-Op and then do some local shopping. At least a decent sized Morrisons has the virtue of being on the ring road - provide a shuttle bus service from there to the centre and there is the possibility of drawing your mid-week pensioners into town for a coffee and bit of shopping.

Make it easier to get to get Wallingford, to park near the shops, and provide a variety of shops to cater for a range of interests, and I don't doubt that people will come here. I think a far better proposition for the old Waitrose site would be an indoor market. The stalls should be inexpensive and allow for people to set up businesses. With a decent variety, we'd have something really new to draw people in to town.

One real problem is that business rates and rents are so high that businesses struggle to survive a downturn. Local authorities need the power to adjust business rates to local realities.

There have to many solutions to this issue - they start with getting our councils to put some original thinking into it.

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EricTheRed says...
8:30am Fri 22 Mar 13

funny that the empty units are not because of Morrisons then??

Prehaps morrisons have very good grounds for appeal on the potential decline of their planning application now? if so they should go for it, and put the self interested shopowner nimbies in their place

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steve1955 says...
9:20am Fri 22 Mar 13

Just like bicester where sainsburys throw a paddy about tescos getting planning permission Wallingford has a shop owner and the coop moaning about morrisons coming to an out of town area
The main point here should be what the people wont in my view thats CHOICE not being dictated to by a few with their own profit interest

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EricTheRed says...
4:16pm Fri 22 Mar 13

Im sure Wallingford is being run like a cartel now when it comes to shops...

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piper2011 says...
12:48pm Tue 26 Mar 13

i have tried to befriend my local town through the hard times, but my money and goodwill can only go so far. so until the shop keepers stop blocking morrisons and learn not to be so greedy i will do ALL of my shopping elsewhere and i hope others follow suit. wallingford chamber of commerce stop being so greedy.

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cornflake girl says...
11:27am Wed 27 Mar 13

Wallingford is a ghost town of over expensive shops / florists / hairdressers / charity shops, Yet the shop owners FEAR morrissons will stop people coming into the town, I'm sorry but your expensive little small shops stop me from coming into town, i understand its a market town and we all like the little quaint shops but enoughs enough now we need bigger and better as more and more shops are closing and emptying here.

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Slimster says...
11:19am Thu 28 Mar 13

I echo all the above comments. The town stores are declining already. People need a reason to come to Wallingford for their Saturday shop, which is why many towns like Bicester are now getting cinema/retail combo developments. Why are Henley and Marlow town centres buzzing? Perhaps a 'competitive analysis' is due?

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