Queen of Shops Mary Portas visits Margate High Street

Christine adams wrote:

i am not supprised retail premises are empty in margate,I have emailed and phoned several estate agents in margate over the past few months not one has replyed or sent details. I have 2 shops at the moment and would like to open one in margate but I cannot get ANY details sent either by email or post.
Can Mary Portas waken the estate agents up ,surely I can't be the only business person to be ignored . If the estate agents were more proactive maybe more shops would be taken .

30 Nov 2011 2:52 PM

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Gabriella C wrote:

And it is really sad to see how Margate has declined it used to be the fun fair with Bembons. the trains packed and people from London during the holidays and summer.

The high street had BHS ( now Primark), M and S and many stores you didn't find in the rest of East Kent other than Canterbury. In fact Margate was good to shop for a seaside town. If Hastings can support shops in it's town centre and it's the same size why didn't the council bulldoze and build an open plan shopping centre on a remodelled Centre Shopping Centre in Margate instead of allowing Westwood Cross

I agree with the comments the lower high street is springing back to life after Turner and it's good that Store 21 previously in Margate as QS returned to the town in the former M and S store. But many stores in the upper high street lie empty for what must be nearly 5 years now and that is sad. The Centre is just depressing. Now Margate and Ramsgate between them are worse than Deal and Dover and although Deal isn't great it does have Marks and Sparks to it's credit and a lot more shops than is in either Ramsgate or Margate. Dover isn't great but it is sad that WC has killed off the thanet town centres bar may be Broadstairs.

Vision is required to shorten the upper high street and get the shops to relocate to a modernised Centre shopping Centre and turn the rest over to Discount Outlet stores and leisure or residential or Educational or services.

Use your loaf councillors instead of claiming for expenses and expecting to be re-elected for doing nothing

Free parking in the town for up to 2 hours might also attract new businesses including making the area a retail enterprise zone with no rates for a few years.

29 Sep 2011 3:18 PM

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Fred and Doris wrote:

Petals are very right in what they say. We've been trading here for a long time and we're not going to give up or be beaten by the council. There are some lovely people about working hard to run businesses here. We didn't see Ms Portas up the top end of the high street. we would have gladly welcomed her in and given her a cup of tea and explained things from our point of view. I see she thought the old town was "buzzing". well as it was a scorching hot sunny day, there were a few people about. As all of us old margate residents know though, in the winter it's horrid with the weather blowing in from the sea. Mary Portas, come on luvvy. Give us some help. we deserve it!

29 Sep 2011 12:49 PM

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Petals wrote:

Theres only one reason Margate is a dump.Thanet Council. They gave up on it many years ago. Never mind the traders who work there. They built Westwood cross which dug the knife in deeper. The Turner Center regenerating the old town,all the grants to pay for it. They dont enforce rules and regulations to help this town be a safer place.Im a trader of 15 years here. yes its tough, yes its not the best place to be. But im not giving up on it. The council should stop playing games with peoples lives and businesses, bringing in Mary Portas to do a job they should be doing in the first place. If she was that serious about doing this job, spend time with all the shopkeepers and TALK to them instead of being shuffled around at 50 miles and hour only seeing what the councilors want you to see.She may find there are people who care!! Come on Portas put you money where your mouth is and help us instead of the obvious answer of buldozing us down!Im appauled at that comment,makes us even more determined to fight back!!! Some of us have put our lives and faith in this town,there are some of us that do believe we can be a good town again. We just need a bit of constructive help and not the old age excuses from the council "the budget wont stretch for the top end of the high street" Rubbish! they knew all along that they wanted this as residential.All i can say to the comments written, i can truely understand some of the comments.....Dont give up on your high streets, think about the people that do have businesses here, put yourself in their shoes,it may change your oppinion.

29 Sep 2011 10:03 AM

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victoria wrote:

Went to Margate a few weeks ago and really liked the old town. Unfortunately, Margate is still too rough at the edges. Particularly depressing were the young girls sniffing solvents in the playground. However, the old town is Margate's best hope for regeneration. Whitstable was once extremely run-down. It's transformation was not attained through expensive building/rebuilding projects but through the allure of independent shops. Good luck, don't give up hope.

28 Sep 2011 9:04 PM

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Ian Sanderson wrote:

If you dropped a bomb on margate you would cause £244 worth off improvements

28 Sep 2011 9:04 PM

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Lyndi wrote:

I agree with Andy. Though margate was dying, westwood X finished it off and that is the councils fault for not thinking past a nice new shiny shopping centre, and what it would do to margate. I want to see The heritage theme park be a great sucess as that'll help to pull in more visitors too. I used to love bemboms in the 80s when I was at school, and to have a local theme park on the seafront would be just great as far as I'm concerned.

28 Sep 2011 8:10 PM

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Andy from Ash wrote:

Ms Portas thinks a third of Margate should become housing and offices because the horse has bolted. HHmmmmmm. On her salary she should be able to chase after the horse and catch it again!!!! I thought she was all for the high street according to her program Mary Queen of Shops. BUT then again as she is one of the mastermind team behind Westfield, are we surprised? The problem with Margate is simple. It's called Westwood Cross. Approved of by Thanet council, without any thought given to what it would do for the towns of Margate and Ramsgate. Wake up Thanet Council, THIS IS ALL YOUR OWN FAULT! And Ms Portas, I am a fan of your TV programs, BUT you need to make up your mind whether you run with the hare OR hunt with the hounds. You can't do both and remain credible!!

28 Sep 2011 6:58 PM

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Ems wrote:

I think that Margate Old Town is doing incredibly well, compared to the High Street, and this needs to be praised rather than lumped in together with "Margate High Street is a dump".

With regard for the Dreamland site, I think a vintage theme park would be a nice idea, but would not necessarily earn its keep as it would be competing with Chessington/Thorpe park. I have always thought as a flyaway idea that a dome comprising an indoor beach would be pretty cool. Would give the council a reason to dredge Margate harbour and provide something for the kids to do in the winter!

28 Sep 2011 4:49 PM

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Kent wrote:

Tinyghost,

I fully agree. The addition of Westwood Cross did not kill Margate as it was already dying. However, I believe it was the final nail in the coffin. A venue would only be as good as the management/booking agents for sure.

Please email me if you wish to discuss this further. I believe Margate and its people should have more of a say in its future.

kent_cc@aol.co.uk

Kent

28 Sep 2011 4:33 PM

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Lionel at Home wrote:

I hereby swear on my honour, not to be on the way to Walmer, not even to walmer climates. Although this erzatz Lionel expresses himself without fault, 'tis not I. However I realise there has to be another Lionel out there, somewhat less handsome and with considerably less panache than I. Beware of cheap (cut-price) imitations.
N.B. I remember Margate in the 60s, on my Lambretta looking for a bit of bovver (to watch, not to participate in). It was really dream-land!!

28 Sep 2011 2:44 PM

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Tinyghost wrote:

I agree with so many of these comments, esp the fact that a vintage Dreamland will be a complete waste of money and compulsory purchase order. We need something viable and a DC with some vision. Turner gallery will not sustain the (very nice) but ultimately doomed boutique old town retail. It is because there is no reason to go to Margate (except the beach and horrible arcades). Westwood cross has nothing to do with it, Margate had died long before that met the needs of local people (and why wasn't that built closer to Margate town?). A venue is a great idea, but then it depends on the management/booking agents and unless you get someone with drive and vision you'll end up with more end of the pier/panomime/variety tat like the winter gardens! Unique specialist independent shops are good, but the main draw is not the turner contemporary...what about a snow dome (skiing, snowboarding etc?), nearest one is Milton Keynes. Just something that draws people here, then they will love the old town, visit the turner gallery, stay in local hotels/B&Bs, spend money and invest money. But the council are a dry, grey breed of fools unfortunately.

28 Sep 2011 11:56 AM

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Kent wrote:

Although it would be good to see Dreamland back open; I believe the proposed plans for the park are dated and have no longevity. A park with vintage rides provides for me, as I am sure many others, no desire to return after an initial visit. Due to this lack of repetitive footfall, as much as it pains me to say it, Dreamland as a fun park will die a death again. It just cannot compete with the 'Big Boys' of Thorpe Park, Chessington and Alton Towers.

The best use of the park and its grounds in my opinion is to undergo a full refurbishment project to become a gig venue for Kent with an external performance area. The pitch of the bingo hall and two cinemas offer excellent view from all round very much like Brixton academy. A cinema is not required as Westwood Cross has many screens. The people of Margate deserve something that will attract people back to the town on a repeat visit basis, not just during the summer periods as a fun park would.

In reply to Dave, I think the compulsory purchase is not going to go in TDC's way and that MTRC will maintain ownership of the building. Either way the funds required for a complete or even part overhaul of the building and park including the Scenic Railway will be so vast that even the HLF will only be able to supply a small amount, not enough to make the "Dreams Come True" as stated in all the press by the Dreamland Trust.

Comments welcome

Sorry if this offends.

Kent

28 Sep 2011 10:33 AM

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Dave wrote:

No mention here by locals on how Dreamland Heritage is going to boost Margate, or are Thanet council wasting millions with their compulsory purchasw?

27 Sep 2011 8:12 PM

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danser wrote:

Never again,well said .I took my grand children there a few weeks ago never again.

27 Sep 2011 7:54 PM

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Gabriella wrote:

She isn't saying anything new.

Margate is the way it is because of Westwood Cross.

Low Incomes, high unemployment and other reasons but mainly Westwood Cross.

Residential and business use is nothing new but if they did cut the business rates may be some of these stores could be turned in to a discount high street that the local community could support.

Thanet DC has no vision no wonder Margate and Ramsgate are in a mess

27 Sep 2011 7:29 PM

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Back To The Future wrote:

"If part of the solution is residential, then that's a very clever option." It may be clever but it doesn't appear to be new - even to Thanet.

e.g. One objective of Thanet District Council's Empty Property and Derelict Land Strategy dated July 2003 was to "further increase the available homes in Thanet by working to bring other empty
properties, for example shops and offices, into use as residential property where
appropriate."

Good job we've got a guru to tell us what we've known for a long, long time - but what we really need is the money to fund these sort of schemes otherwise the private sector would have already carried them out if they stacked up without subsidy.

27 Sep 2011 7:08 PM

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Lilly wrote:

Westwood cross is a fantastic success no one can deny that, nice clean secure site nice stores friendly store staff free parking good location shopping and entertainment at it's best. BE PROUD OF IT. Margate high street is history get over it.
I don't need the 'queen of shops to tell me that'.

27 Sep 2011 7:07 PM

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disillusioned local wrote:

Glad to see that this issue is finally being addressed by the government. Personally, I hold Thanet council fully responsible for the appauling state that Margate has been allowed to spiral into. They should learn some lessons from other successful seaside resorts like Eastbourne. Why have they managed to succeed over Margate, when we have such beautiful beaches? Back- handers maybe??? Thanet council- hang your heads in shame!

27 Sep 2011 6:49 PM

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Ms Dingbat wrote:

Wow! Cool shades she's wearing. Bought from Margate?

27 Sep 2011 5:55 PM

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William Allgood wrote:

I travel the UK and Europe looking for viable sites for retail clients. Re: Margate and Ramsgate High Streets.

Simple solution....

1. All business rates on high street premises suspended for 5 years.

2. Free parking in the high street area. Reviewed each year.

Outcome: Margate / Ramsgate high streets would be buzzing in a very short time with all units occupied.

27 Sep 2011 5:43 PM

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Kevin James wrote:

I'm sorry that Margate isn't the Shangri-La that 'Never again' so obviously hails from...
Margate can be viewed, rightly, as you described it but the oh-so -slow process of turning it back into a place that locals can be proud of, is happening... though I have no idea whether the lady mentioned in the above piece can help, being a 'fan' of out of town retail that she allegedly is...

27 Sep 2011 3:34 PM

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WhatDoTheyExpect wrote:

I don't know why the council thought it was such a good idea to spend millions on Westwood X, that money could have been better spent to regenerated Margate.

Instead we lose argicultural land, have grid lock thanks to the idiotic road planning, and Margate is a dump.

27 Sep 2011 3:32 PM

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Never again wrote:

Dont know what a "Retail guru "or Mary Portas are.
Margate is a filthy run down neglected third world ghost town that clings on to a by gone era of the 1950s.
Visitors are greeted by a desserted train station a dirty tower block and boarded up pub followed by seedy arcades and tatty bucket and spade shops as further along the front endless busses spew fumes upon the street drinkers hiding in the shadows, you know when you are nearing the harbour by the stench and the empty 1980s style wine bar.
Market square was a little better one pub closed down another one should be ,the one with tables outside was a good find and so where one or two small shops.
we walked back through the high street and found more shops closed down then open ( even the bank) got on the train home and counted our blessing that our children dont have to live in such deprived conditions.
How the people of margate accept such squalor defies belief, they deserve better.

27 Sep 2011 1:52 PM

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Lionel (currently on the way to Walmer). wrote:

The only way to rescue clone towns is to fill the high streets with independent coffee shops, public houses and quality restaurants and small scale cinemas. Large retailers have long since given up on these locations. Local councils shoule provide good quality, low cost transport to the High Streets on a 24 hour basis.

Also breaking the high street closure at 5.30pm will encourage more communities out after traditional hours. Most high streets are dead after this time. More needs to be done to encourage people away from their sofa and socialising in the evening (tax subsidised of course).

27 Sep 2011 12:57 PM

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