Walsall town centre

[sid swifty]

For the first time in about 5 years, I went a long walk around the town centre while my car was being MOT'd,the first place I went was the Old square,at least half the shops were empty and yet they are building another shopping centre opposite with only 2 units so far being let, to Poundland & B&M, joining the plethora of 99p shops,charity shops,Pay day loans shops,phone shops, and Greggs.Sadly, it seems as though the place is dying a slow death.

[yoda]

Town centres do seem to be dying off. What do they offer these days that the internet or a local supermarket can't?

Where I live (Tamworth) is a perfect case study. The town centre is a ghost town with lots of empty stores. 3 or 4 mile away there is an Asda that receives more daily traffic / visitors than its infrastructure can handle and there are frequent jams.

Some people may see it as sad, I see it as times changing.

[chunkster]

Town centres do seem to be dying off. What do they offer these days that the internet or a local supermarket can't?

Where I live (Tamworth) is a perfect case study. The town centre is a ghost town with lots of empty stores. 3 or 4 mile away there is an Asda that receives more daily traffic / visitors than its infrastructure can handle and there are frequent jams.

Some people may see it as sad, I see it as times changing.

Used to love my friday nights in the embassy club :wink: but i think it has probably changed it's name about 10 times over the years

[yoda]

Mainly because of the stabbings!

[chunkster]

For the first time in about 5 years, I went a long walk around the town centre while my car was being MOT'd,the first place I went was the Old square,at least half the shops were empty and yet they are building another shopping centre opposite with only 2 units so far being let, to Poundland & B&M, joining the plethora of 99p shops,charity shops,Pay day loans shops,phone shops, and Greggs.Sadly, it seems as though the place is dying a slow death.

The last time i walked through walsall i didn't recognize a single accent :|

[yoda]

The last time i walked through walsall i didn't recognize a single accent :|

To me that's not strictly a bad thing. See my 'times change' line of thinking.

[chunkster]

The last time i walked through walsall i didn't recognize a single accent :|

To me that's not strictly a bad thing. See my 'times change' line of thinking.

Ye i agree i am not knocking it :wink: it was just an observation. but walsall town center is nothing like the one i was used to in the 80's 90's. But i don't think it sits well with the older generation. my parents refuse to go there now, preferring lichfield and sutton.

[buttssadler]

I have lived in Walsall all my life and I must say it is not as it was when I was a kid but times move on but not for better in this case but you are right y open a lot of shops when carnt fill em :(

[chunkster]

I have lived in Walsall all my life and I must say it is not as it was when I was a kid but times move on but not for better in this case but you are right y open a lot of shops when can't fill em :(

Have you seen all the new ones next to asda? half of them empty and they are redeveloping the other side now? the biggest problem with businesses in walsall is the cost of the rates. Quite a few years ago me and a friend looked into opening a wine bar in brownhills and the cost of the rates put us off.

[Exile]

I have lived in Walsall all my life and I must say it is not as it was when I was a kid but times move on but not for better in this case but you are right y open a lot of shops when can't fill em :(

Have you seen all the new ones next to asda? half of them empty and they are redeveloping the other side now? the biggest problem with businesses in walsall is the cost of the rates. Quite a few years ago me and a friend looked into opening a wine bar in brownhills and the cost of the rates put us off.

Wine bar. Ok, yah!

[SaigonSaddler]

I have lived in Walsall all my life and I must say it is not as it was when I was a kid but times move on but not for better in this case but you are right y open a lot of shops when can't fill em :(

Have you seen all the new ones next to asda? half of them empty and they are redeveloping the other side now? the biggest problem with businesses in walsall is the cost of the rates. Quite a few years ago me and a friend looked into opening a wine bar in brownhills and the cost of the rates put us off.

Wine bar. Ok, yah!

He really missed a trick, should have gone into jodhpurs and bespoke dinner jackets. :D :wink:

[moaning saddler]

I have lived in Walsall all my life and I must say it is not as it was when I was a kid but times move on but not for better in this case but you are right y open a lot of shops when can't fill em :(

Have you seen all the new ones next to asda? half of them empty and they are redeveloping the other side now? the biggest problem with businesses in walsall is the cost of the rates. Quite a few years ago me and a friend looked into opening a wine bar in brownhills and the cost of the rates put us off.

Which part of Brownhills were you looking at - the rough bit or the not quite so rough bit?
I'd pay good money to see the market research and business plan for that particular venture.

[Exile]

I have lived in Walsall all my life and I must say it is not as it was when I was a kid but times move on but not for better in this case but you are right y open a lot of shops when can't fill em :(

Have you seen all the new ones next to asda? half of them empty and they are redeveloping the other side now? the biggest problem with businesses in walsall is the cost of the rates. Quite a few years ago me and a friend looked into opening a wine bar in brownhills and the cost of the rates put us off.

Which part of Brownhills were you looking at - the rough bit or the not quite so rough bit?
I'd pay good money to see the market research and business plan for that particular venture.

Specialising in cleanskins and paint stripper.

[chunkster]

I have lived in Walsall all my life and I must say it is not as it was when I was a kid but times move on but not for better in this case but you are right y open a lot of shops when can't fill em :(

Have you seen all the new ones next to asda? half of them empty and they are redeveloping the other side now? the biggest problem with businesses in walsall is the cost of the rates. Quite a few years ago me and a friend looked into opening a wine bar in brownhills and the cost of the rates put us off.

Which part of Brownhills were you looking at - the rough bit or the not quite so rough bit?
I'd pay good money to see the market research and business plan for that particular venture.

Believe it or not i am sure it used to be a sports shop owned by stan bennett and now brownhills job center. and at the time the profit margin on a bottle of britvic orange was 400%. but while we were thinking about it someone opened one over the road called simply blues and it was rammed every night for years :|

[Super Gabor]

Not been for a while but the town centre has suffered from three main issues for as long as I can remember.

1. It's too spread out. From the top of the old market near the Guildhall down through to the Bridge, up Park Street then up to the Wharf is too long a walk. It needs a better focus and feels too piecemeal and also neglected in large parts. It's like a scattered strung out mix of developments that don't gel together but have been bolted on over the decades with little coherence
2. Walsall's not a very prosperous town so struggles to attract or sustain much of a retail offer beyond the big standard chains and tat. The occasional independent gem you used to find (Sundown Records, The Guildhall redevelopment (early 90s) and a few other stores) seem to be lacking
3. It's got a much bigger competitor just 9 miles away that draws in those wanting a bit more of a glamorous shopping experience

Town centre needs a rethink and a better mix of funky, creative independents and places to get a bite to eat and drink. Not sure that would be very "Walsall" though.

[aaaae]

As you say, the redevelopment of the Bull Ring has had a big impact. Brum is packed whenever we go.

[Ancient Moaner]

Leigh, where I currently live seems to have got it right, we have a precinct, small town centre with a variety of small independent businesses, a cracking well diverse market, literally tens of great pubs ancient/classic/modern.
Every supermarket that exists (apart from Waitrose of course, it's a poor town). Has a cracking Retail Park with plentiful free parking. The traffic in the town flows quite freely most of the time.
All-told a super success story despite the fact that we have the great city of Manchesterford, just a short drive down the East Lancs dual carriageway, equally easily reached via a fabulous (£4.50 return!) guided busway (along an old railway line), if you don't feel like driving, (or paying an average car parking fee of around £6/£10 per day!)
Also we have the Trafford Centre, one of the biggest Shopping centres in the UK, just a few miles away on the Motorway.
Yet Leigh is always busy, (yes a few charity shops at the far end of the town) but not suffering from the 'town centre blight' that most small towns seem to have.

To be honest when I come back to Walsall I avoid the town centre, I get lost in the new traffic system (well probably 40 year old new!) tend to stick to the area round the ground, Palfrey/Caldmore/Broadway etc, don't feel threatened there.
(I like to hope that my sun tan helps in the former two! :lol: :lol: )

[Manchester Saddler]

Leigh, where I currently live seems to have got it right, we have a precinct, small town centre with a variety of small independent businesses, a cracking well diverse market, literally tens of great pubs ancient/classic/modern.
Every supermarket that exists (apart from Waitrose of course, it's a poor town). Has a cracking Retail Park with plentiful free parking. The traffic in the town flows quite freely most of the time.
All-told a super success story despite the fact that we have the great city of Manchesterford, just a short drive down the East Lancs dual carriageway, equally easily reached via a fabulous (£4.50 return!) guided busway (along an old railway line), if you don't feel like driving, (or paying an average car parking fee of around £6/£10 per day!)
Also we have the Trafford Centre, one of the biggest Shopping centres in the UK, just a few miles away on the Motorway.
Yet Leigh is always busy, (yes a few charity shops at the far end of the town) but not suffering from the 'town centre blight' that most small towns seem to have.

To be honest when I come back to Walsall I avoid the town centre, I get lost in the new traffic system (well probably 40 year old new!) tend to stick to the area round the ground, Palfrey/Caldmore/Broadway etc, don't feel threatened there.
(I like to hope that my sun tan helps in the former two! :lol: :lol: )

So you've popped across the Pennines have you, AM? I've never been to Leigh itself but I've been to Newton-Le-Willows and Eccles which straddle it. Swamp Saddler used to be in Tyldesley just down the road.

Strange about your "sun tan". When I lived in Caldmore/Palfrey, the threats didn't come from "sun tanned people"; it was from stupid white men.

But each to their own I suppose.

[Ancient Moaner]

Leigh, where I currently live seems to have got it right, we have a precinct, small town centre with a variety of small independent businesses, a cracking well diverse market, literally tens of great pubs ancient/classic/modern.
Every supermarket that exists (apart from Waitrose of course, it's a poor town). Has a cracking Retail Park with plentiful free parking. The traffic in the town flows quite freely most of the time.
All-told a super success story despite the fact that we have the great city of Manchesterford, just a short drive down the East Lancs dual carriageway, equally easily reached via a fabulous (£4.50 return!) guided busway (along an old railway line), if you don't feel like driving, (or paying an average car parking fee of around £6/£10 per day!)
Also we have the Trafford Centre, one of the biggest Shopping centres in the UK, just a few miles away on the Motorway.
Yet Leigh is always busy, (yes a few charity shops at the far end of the town) but not suffering from the 'town centre blight' that most small towns seem to have.

To be honest when I come back to Walsall I avoid the town centre, I get lost in the new traffic system (well probably 40 year old new!) tend to stick to the area round the ground, Palfrey/Caldmore/Broadway etc, don't feel threatened there.
(I like to hope that my sun tan helps in the former two! :lol: :lol: )

So you've popped across the Pennines have you, AM? I've never been to Leigh itself but I've been to Newton-Le-Willows and Eccles which straddle it. Swamp Saddler used to be in Tyldesley just down the road.

Strange about your "sun tan". When I lived in Caldmore/Palfrey, the threats didn't come from "sun tanned people"; it was from stupid white men.

But each to their own I suppose.

Best decision we have ever made getting away. There are some areas of Yorkshire that could be considered OK, but West Yorkshire? Nah!
You know yourself what a friendly lot they are in Greater Manchesterford, and Leigh is like a jewel in a magnificent crown.
It's certainly not Gods holy Bescot, but it's the next best thing. We must get together again, perhaps another NUTS night out? Promise NOT to talk politics or race relations!! :lol: :lol:

[Manchester Saddler]

I know some decent areas in West Yorkshire - like Wetherby for example.

NUTS would be good and I too won't start ranting about politics/Brexit either :D

Such things are best left to a message board like this I find - well sometimes at least.

:D :wink:

[Ancient Moaner]

I know some decent areas in West Yorkshire - like Wetherby for example.

NUTS would be good and I too won't start ranting about politics/Brexit either :D

Such things are best left to a message board like this I find - well sometimes at least.

:D :wink:

Look forward to trying to arrange another night, Sheff used to start the ball rolling but marriage and a new young'un have veered him from the holy quest these days.
If we try to sound out the likes of PT, Belg and others in our midst, we may get together again shortly, looking forward to seeing everyone again (and the pretty young things in the bars....I may be 70 but I aye dead yet!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: )

[Manchester Saddler]

Yeah - PT was there last time as was JJ (Jolly Johnny). Who knows? There may be more of us.

I recall your age, AM - I'm mid-50's myself but not as ancient as you.

:D :wink:

[Ancient Moaner]

Yeah - PT was there last time as was JJ (Jolly Johnny). Who knows? There may be more of us.

I recall your age, AM - I'm mid-50's myself but not as ancient as you.

:D :wink:

Not many are my friend!! :D :wink:

[Evo Boozy Saddler]

Walsall town centre is ace. It could use a few more shops, especially independents but I love the place. The development around the new cinema is superb, and you there is now a choice of fantastic places for a bite to eat. Throw in that drinking venues are reopening, and a micro pub on the way and it's now turning into a decent night out again. The council needlessly robbed us of many pubs in the name of redevelopment but the ones we still have are great.

The main thing that irritates me is when a shop closes, people are Facebook are quick to lament it's loss whilst in the next sentence proudly boasting how they don't use Walsall anymore. Walsall could use some more investment but it's seen as a place where there is no money to be made, so we'll always be behind the other local towns.

[scott_powell]

Even as someone who tends to shop at Birmingham or Merry Hell (I hate the place but the misses likes it) Walsall town centre isn't as bad as many make out. There's a decent selection of shops, bars and eateries. It's not too big and never too crowded. The Wharf development is great and the cinema is one of the best I've been to. I can always find somewhere to park even at the busiest times. Travel links (Train/bus stations) are alright. The Saddlers Centre and Old Square could do with a bit of life injected into it but other than that it's a decent place.

I've been to much worse places in the UK.

[Manchester Saddler]

Walsall town centre is ace. It could use a few more shops, especially independents but I love the place. The development around the new cinema is superb, and you there is now a choice of fantastic places for a bite to eat. Throw in that drinking venues are reopening, and a micro pub on the way and it's now turning into a decent night out again. The council needlessly robbed us of many pubs in the name of redevelopment but the ones we still have are great.

The main thing that irritates me is when a shop closes, people are Facebook are quick to lament it's loss whilst in the next sentence proudly boasting how they don't use Walsall anymore. Walsall could use some more investment but it's seen as a place where there is no money to be made, so we'll always be behind the other local towns.

I've been there recently and was disappointed to see a few pubs that I used to visit have disappeared. I suppose new ones have replaced them but it is a little sad to see them vanish.

:(

[Evo Boozy Saddler]

Walsall town centre is ace. It could use a few more shops, especially independents but I love the place. The development around the new cinema is superb, and you there is now a choice of fantastic places for a bite to eat. Throw in that drinking venues are reopening, and a micro pub on the way and it's now turning into a decent night out again. The council needlessly robbed us of many pubs in the name of redevelopment but the ones we still have are great.

The main thing that irritates me is when a shop closes, people are Facebook are quick to lament it's loss whilst in the next sentence proudly boasting how they don't use Walsall anymore. Walsall could use some more investment but it's seen as a place where there is no money to be made, so we'll always be behind the other local towns.

I've been there recently and was disappointed to see a few pubs that I used to visit have disappeared. I suppose new ones have replaced them but it is a little sad to see them vanish.

:(

Yep, we've lost some great boozers and not many through lack of patronage. Which ones did you used to visit that have now gone?

[Cully]

What happened to The Tavern in the Town? For a time it was my last stop before walking to Fellows Park and first port of call after the match.

[SaigonSaddler]

Never been the same since they closed the Black Swan.

Walsall is .... alright in parts, but some of the streets are either run-down or underused.

Considering the size of the population it serves, it's not that great.

[Cowshed]

There has always been a traditional village mentality to the top end rushall,pelsall,Aldridge,bloxwich and brownhills and the bottom end loses out to brum and West Brom with willenhall being close to Wolverhampton. The town centre has always been quiet at night.