Construction sites in Stafford

Pawnless Endgame · 30 Mar 2015 at 18:32

I thought I'd create a Stafford thread as there's one on here already (akilleazy's), and there are a few other Staffordians kicking about here

1. Concept art of the new cinema complex. This was a poster stuck in one of the windows of the old Express & Star offices. The complex is also meant to hold a new M&S and a Debenans, although I think Debs have pulled out now? Any idea what else will be there? I hope it's not the usual betting shops, pawnbroker's, charity shops lol. Another coffee shop would be nice, although we've got the 3 main ones already - Nero, Costa and Starbucks.

2. This one, I just call it the cut-corners building. It was completed in 2010 or 2011, but because they've cut corners (hence my name for it), they've been repairing it pretty much ever since. The new M&S was going to be in there, but have since moved to the cinema complex as already mentioned above. Any idea what's exactly going to be inside this?! It's still full of "for let" stickers.

cut%20corners%20building_zpsucdahgsw.jpg

3. This is supposed to be our Morrison's in Stafford. I've heard off the rumour mill that Morrison's have bailed from this, although construction is still ongoing.

4. St. George's Parkway. This was just wastelands for many years, then pretty suddenly a whole new neighbourhood sprung up. Looks pretty impressive. They're still building stuff there though... what used to be a temporary small car park now has a road going through it but still cordoned off with those high metal barriers. (old car park was just left of the pic below). Is it going to be another road with yet more houses? Would be nice if they added a small post office / convenience store especially for that neighbourhood.

So yeah, up and up, in good ol' Sunny Stafford!

SexyBetty · 30 Mar 2015 at 18:41

I heard there was a Nandos going up somewhere too? Not heard Morrisons had bailed though

Pawnless Endgame · 30 Mar 2015 at 20:30

Ahhh I've heard of Nando's because they have their sauces in Tesco etc. Didn't realise it was somewhere you can eat too. Good news about Morrison's too, as we'll have the so-called big 4 then.

tom_e · 30 Mar 2015 at 20:35

Did they not have problems with the stone slabs falling off that new building just after they'd "finished" it?

bitslice · 30 Mar 2015 at 21:58

Where is everyone expected to park ?

It could be a OK town if the council didn't already occupy 99% of the prime building sites in the centre, that Stafford Uni wasn't about to close and that we will have no A&E any more.

A new cinema might be nice, assuming they don't price it too high.

It doesn't need a Morrisons, Tesco and Asda are fine.

Psyoletic · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:10

How is Stafford now that the University is gone? Must be quieter. I was there for two years before I got screwed over big time (partly mine, mostly their fault) and the town was quiet busy with students. Curious to know the impact if there is any?

Dunks · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:13

Pawnless Endgame said:
Ahhh I've heard of Nando's because they have their sauces in Tesco etc. Didn't realise it was somewhere you can eat too. Good news about Morrison's too, as we'll have the so-called big 4 then.

Didn't realise Nando's was a restaurant chain? Is it that bad up there?

Nitefly · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:13

Is this the BNP Paribas market research thread or something?

Pawnless Endgame · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:20

Yup, it is that bad ooop Norf

Reference Staffs Uni, I don't approve of the closure of Stafford campus either. It will mean a population reduction of around 3000, taking what's left of Stafford's nightlife away, even though Stafford wasn't that great in that respect anyway. I think we've got 1 more year before that campus shuts fully.

I like the idea of a newer/bigger cinema, but I'm wary that it'll put the smaller Apollo cinema out of business. I'm only ok with this if the chain cinema guarantees employment to anyone that lost jobs at the Apollo. I wouldn't hold my breath though... dog eat dog.

And nope Nitefly - BNP are the least likely party I'd vote for.

Housey · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:20

Stafford is dead, really dead. I worked in Stafford 30 years ago, it was very different then but like all towns these days outside of posh ones, it's dead. I was there this Saturday to have a further eye check and to shop at Halpin/Blacks and spent some time walking the town, just to take it in. Garbage shop after garbage shop with the odd phone shop, boots and cheap shops with people shifting crap. Stafford used to have some nice shops, had one of the first NEXT's and some good specialists but sadly retail is ****** and Stafford needs more than a Morrisons and Cinema. It needs a new demographic and massive investment and even then it will probably fail.

Not dumping on your thread, but I have lived in the area for close to 48 years.

Nitefly · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:30

Pawnless Endgame said:
And nope Nitefly - BNP are the least likely party I'd vote for.

Oh no he didn't!

Pawnless Endgame · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:36

@ Nitefly. I'm voting tory, but please educate me on how a thread about my (and many other GDers) hometown leans towards the BNP

@ Housey. No offence taken! I've been in Stafford just shy of 20 years and I know we've lost the likes of NEXT, HMV, Gamestation, Paper House, Bella Pasta etc to the likes of charity and pawn shops.

Housey · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:43

Pawnless Endgame said:
@ Housey. No offence taken! I've been in Stafford just shy of 20 years and I know we've lost the likes of NEXT, HMV, Gamestation, Paper House, Bella Pasta etc to the likes of charity and pawn shops.

It's like any high street these days, sadly, it needs a total rethink as simply opening a cinema and selling short terms leases will sadly make it worse. Needs a total overhaul, needs to become a place that people who spend will want to go, not people who shop lift or buy from 1p stores as they won't sustain anyone. Problem is if your demographic can't afford it then it will never happen and sadly i think Stafford, though it has some nice places, is sadly a town on a big decline.

PC World is an example, it has a shelf after shelf 30 foot long with 3 items on each shelf. Walk around to Music Matters and it looks shabby, in need of customers. Even the VERY small Laura Ashley has moved to selling clothes on a few rails as people were not buying their interior stuff. Around it you have tat shops and crappy take aways.

Such a shame.

Nitefly · 30 Mar 2015 at 22:43

Well, there's your market research - change your name!

Malevolence · 30 Mar 2015 at 23:06

Back in the 70s/80s I used to buy my Britain's Soldiers and Britain's Space from a toy shop in Stafford. For the life of me though I cannot remember it's name. I seem to recall it being a family owned place.

Pawnless Endgame · 30 Mar 2015 at 23:08

Bagnall's toy shop in the estate agent's quarter, near to the Gatehouse? The shop's sign was red/yellow letters. Think it stayed open until the mid-2000's about 10 years ago.

Malevolence · 30 Mar 2015 at 23:10

Bagnall's, that's the place. Nice one. I spent many hours in that place.

kaptainmarc · 31 Mar 2015 at 06:49

I went to college in Stafford and lived in Uttoxeter for many years we have a gathering once a year in Stafford and its just dire now.

nightlife is dead, The only place that seems to have people in is McDonalds and wetherspoons. Such a shame as I have fond memories of going to Stafford when I was a kid getting my first mobile phone and going up Bagnalls as previously mentioned for the toys/models

The cinema has always struggled from what I have seen, I fear a big new shiny one wont do much better especially with closing down Stafford campus

SickAsAParrot · 31 Mar 2015 at 07:23

I live in Stoke so a visit to Stafford is a rare treat.

But when even places like "The Works" is shutting down, things are looking a bit grim.

Amp34 · 31 Mar 2015 at 08:19

Nitefly said:
Is this the BNP Paribas market research thread or something?

I was thinking of starting a "Bins of Truro" thread...