Bishop’s Bishop’s StortfordStortford

the high street and the high street and the future of boththe future of both

Bishop’s Stortford & MeBishop’s Stortford & Me

►My name is Robert DrewettMy name is Robert Drewett

►Lived in Bishop’s Stortford for 30+ yearsLived in Bishop’s Stortford for 30+ years

►Had a business in Stortford for 25+yearsHad a business in Stortford for 25+years

Who Do I Represent?Who Do I Represent?

► I represent myself as a resident of BSI represent myself as a resident of BS►The business I own (Ce’)The business I own (Ce’)►My family My family ►The Bishop’s Stortford retail group, The Bishop’s Stortford retail group,

about 60 membersabout 60 members►Over 2000 Customers & residents of Over 2000 Customers & residents of

BS who completed a development BS who completed a development petition..petition..

In what capacity am I here ?In what capacity am I here ?

► I have been part of this community for 30 years. I have been part of this community for 30 years. I’ve been involved in discussions with:-I’ve been involved in discussions with:-

► HendersonsHendersons► Chamber of CommerceChamber of Commerce► Civic SocietyCivic Society► I was Committee member of the TCP (now I was Committee member of the TCP (now

defunct)defunct)► Founding member of the North Street Founding member of the North Street

PartnershipPartnership► Founding member of the BS Retail Group..Founding member of the BS Retail Group..

So, WHY am I here?So, WHY am I here?

►To encourage BS town council to take To encourage BS town council to take a more pro-active role in shaping the a more pro-active role in shaping the town centre.town centre.

►To ask BS council to help preserve the To ask BS council to help preserve the heart of our community and distance heart of our community and distance itself from party politicsitself from party politics

►To offer support through consultationTo offer support through consultation►To ask the Council to stand and fight To ask the Council to stand and fight

for what it believes..for what it believes..

Aren't these things we do Aren't these things we do now?now?

► Partly yes,….Partly yes,….► But what happens But what happens afterafter you lose major you lose major

planning decisions?planning decisions?►How often do you talk to the town centre How often do you talk to the town centre

business’s as a group?business’s as a group?►When was the last public stand you made as When was the last public stand you made as

a a groupgroup against a decision which you against a decision which you deemed not to benefit BS?deemed not to benefit BS?

► By “stand” I mean embracing public opinion By “stand” I mean embracing public opinion & enlist their support..& enlist their support..

Is there NOTHING we can do?Is there NOTHING we can do?► I am concerned that developers feed us “what I am concerned that developers feed us “what

we want” information but fall short on delivery. we want” information but fall short on delivery. There appears to be no comeback on them. Lets There appears to be no comeback on them. Lets take the demise of Lussmans, they were shown take the demise of Lussmans, they were shown a town square with a bustle of river side bars. A a town square with a bustle of river side bars. A leisure space, I think it was described. What leisure space, I think it was described. What happened to that?happened to that?

►When I hear developers say “yes” it will have When I hear developers say “yes” it will have this, that or the other, I dont believe them, do this, that or the other, I dont believe them, do you?you?

► The NEW development is having a Debenhams, The NEW development is having a Debenhams, a Harrods? Jackson sq was to have River Island a Harrods? Jackson sq was to have River Island and others. They tell you what you want to and others. They tell you what you want to hear. hear.

Their figures not mine..Their figures not mine..

► The proposed Hendersons development has (up to) The proposed Hendersons development has (up to) 131 extra car parking spaces. 131 extra car parking spaces.

► Of those 131, 70 have been allocated for the 100 Of those 131, 70 have been allocated for the 100 flats, will flats, will 61 61 spaces be enough for the 110 bed spaces be enough for the 110 bed hotel/conference centre, 1,200 seat cinema, 34 hotel/conference centre, 1,200 seat cinema, 34 shops, 3 restaurants, a mini department store, 723 shops, 3 restaurants, a mini department store, 723 new workers and 25,000 extra shoppers, (taken new workers and 25,000 extra shoppers, (taken from the developers own figures). I don’t think so. from the developers own figures). I don’t think so.

► Where will the existing workers park when residents Where will the existing workers park when residents only parking is enforced around Bishops Stortford? only parking is enforced around Bishops Stortford?

► There are around 300 existing town centre workers There are around 300 existing town centre workers who park in the streets every day around Bishops who park in the streets every day around Bishops Stortford. Stortford.

It Doesn’t add upIt Doesn’t add up

►Add another 723 workers from the Add another 723 workers from the new development, that's 1,023 new development, that's 1,023 workers, where are all of these workers, where are all of these key workers going to park? And, key workers going to park? And, where are all of these extra where are all of these extra shoppers going to park?shoppers going to park?

►Its Pie in the sky and some of you Its Pie in the sky and some of you support it..?support it..?

From 2002 EHDC parking From 2002 EHDC parking StudyStudy

► Demand for parking is expected to increase 16% by Demand for parking is expected to increase 16% by 20112011

► Recommend increasing long stay from 610 to 850Recommend increasing long stay from 610 to 850► Recommend increasing Short stay from 850 to Recommend increasing Short stay from 850 to

11401140► PLUS a further 350 long stay by 2011PLUS a further 350 long stay by 2011► Change some pay & display to pay on footChange some pay & display to pay on foot► Has this any of this expensive study been Has this any of this expensive study been

implemented? implemented? ► So why do we think a new development can So why do we think a new development can

succeed with less parking than was recommended succeed with less parking than was recommended even before Hendersons were around? even before Hendersons were around?

I don’t Believe it!I don’t Believe it!

►Can anyone in their right minds support Can anyone in their right minds support this development as it stands?this development as it stands?

►There will have to be Compulsory There will have to be Compulsory purchase orders on two existing & very purchase orders on two existing & very successful businesses, Coopers & successful businesses, Coopers & Waitrose.Waitrose.

►This CANNOT be right..!This CANNOT be right..!►Why allow unproven businesses an Why allow unproven businesses an

advantage over existing ones?advantage over existing ones?

LussmansLussmans

► In our BS Retail meeting with Mark Prisk on In our BS Retail meeting with Mark Prisk on Friday 14th, I unwittingly used Lussmans as Friday 14th, I unwittingly used Lussmans as an example of poor planning decisions made an example of poor planning decisions made in the Jackson Sq development. Commenting in the Jackson Sq development. Commenting that I didn’t know how Lussmans were still that I didn’t know how Lussmans were still trading…. Unfortunately for BS on Sunday trading…. Unfortunately for BS on Sunday 1616thth they lost their losing battle. they lost their losing battle.

► Mark “understands” our frustration, and is Mark “understands” our frustration, and is prepared to help. How far ???? We don’t prepared to help. How far ???? We don’t know yet..know yet..

Who really benefits from these Who really benefits from these developments?developments?

►Certainly NOT the people of BSCertainly NOT the people of BS►You only have to look at Jackson SqYou only have to look at Jackson Sq►Net result?... A larger Sainsbury’s and a Net result?... A larger Sainsbury’s and a

car park no one likes. Oh sorry XX car park no one likes. Oh sorry XX number of flats.number of flats.

►Where is the promised town square, river Where is the promised town square, river front cafés & bars, designer shops etc?front cafés & bars, designer shops etc?

►Like a Developers promise, just pie in the Like a Developers promise, just pie in the skysky

Well?Well?

► I hear councillors say “there is nothing I hear councillors say “there is nothing we can do”we can do”

►““We did all we could”We did all we could”►““We voted against, we didn’t want this”We voted against, we didn’t want this”►WELL? … Is that it? .. Is that the end of WELL? … Is that it? .. Is that the end of

the matter?.... If the Iraqis had taken the matter?.... If the Iraqis had taken that view they would still be controlled that view they would still be controlled by a dictator...by a dictator...

I Know…….I Know…….

►Town Councils have little powerTown Councils have little power► I also know many of you would like to I also know many of you would like to

do more for BSdo more for BS► I know you all spend many hours I know you all spend many hours

unpaidunpaid► I know many of you spend days I know many of you spend days

helping people in your wardshelping people in your wards►So what help do you get from us? So what help do you get from us?

What do you expect?What do you expect?

►There is much distrust of politicians, civil There is much distrust of politicians, civil servants and councils, corruption and servants and councils, corruption and double standards are well documenteddouble standards are well documented

►Sometimes it appears civil servants Sometimes it appears civil servants work for themselves first and the work for themselves first and the citizens come a distant second…citizens come a distant second…

What do your voters WANT?What do your voters WANT?

► An awful lot, im sure. Well, they do pay the bills.An awful lot, im sure. Well, they do pay the bills.► They expect a safe well policed area to live inThey expect a safe well policed area to live in► Clean & tidy streetsClean & tidy streets► Amenities which make life easier for themAmenities which make life easier for them► Leisure facilities and open spaces to enjoyLeisure facilities and open spaces to enjoy► Easy access in & around townEasy access in & around town► A decent shopping areaA decent shopping area► The above are just part of a balanced society..The above are just part of a balanced society..

Working togetherWorking together

► Is the Is the ONLYONLY way to achieve those way to achieve those “wants”“wants”

►Having a single effective voiceHaving a single effective voice►YOU are our representatives for BSYOU are our representatives for BS►At the moment there is little or no At the moment there is little or no

consultation with other groupsconsultation with other groups►There should be a well oiled plan that There should be a well oiled plan that

involves consultation with business & involves consultation with business & residents in all major decisions affecting residents in all major decisions affecting BS..BS..

Town Centre PartnershipTown Centre Partnership

►We used to have one..!We used to have one..!

► It was under fundedIt was under funded

► Its meetings were at best infrequentIts meetings were at best infrequent

►Nothing much got done..Nothing much got done..

What is TCP/TCM purpose?What is TCP/TCM purpose?

► The TCP & TCM should facilitate a constant The TCP & TCM should facilitate a constant stream of ideas & actions to promote & stream of ideas & actions to promote & improve the town centre.improve the town centre.

► It should be the link between the Town It should be the link between the Town Centre & the CouncilsCentre & the Councils

►Without an effective partnership the town is Without an effective partnership the town is like a ship with no power, floundering in like a ship with no power, floundering in rough seas.rough seas.

How does this help BSTCHow does this help BSTC►An effective TCP will support the Town An effective TCP will support the Town

Council in its work, offering business Council in its work, offering business advice and ideas to build a better Town advice and ideas to build a better Town Centre for all.Centre for all.

► It will help raise awareness, support the It will help raise awareness, support the Town on unwanted planning decisions.Town on unwanted planning decisions.

►See Jackson Sq, the Schools & See Jackson Sq, the Schools & Hendersons…Hendersons…

Lets talk Business?Lets talk Business?

►Where is the Town Centre Partnership Where is the Town Centre Partnership now?now?

►Why do we not have an effective TCM?Why do we not have an effective TCM?

►Why was the TCP dissolved?Why was the TCP dissolved?

►WHO made that decision?....WHO made that decision?....

But we have NO power.!But we have NO power.!

► You have the same power as the rest of us to say You have the same power as the rest of us to say what you want towhat you want to

► Party politics have no place in local government.Party politics have no place in local government.

► You should be free to make your own decisions You should be free to make your own decisions not decisions that you think are expected of you.not decisions that you think are expected of you.

► You You couldcould take action & ask your town to support take action & ask your town to support you with a rally or march..you with a rally or march..

To ConcludeTo Conclude

► Business demands an effective TCMBusiness demands an effective TCM► The position of TCM should be seen as an The position of TCM should be seen as an

essential part of running the Town Centre. essential part of running the Town Centre. Treated in the same way as the Tourist Treated in the same way as the Tourist office staff, Car park attendants, office staff, Car park attendants, Environmental health officers or even the Environmental health officers or even the Chief Executive post.Chief Executive post.

► Ratepayers expect you to do ALL you can to Ratepayers expect you to do ALL you can to listen to them & advise in their best listen to them & advise in their best interests..interests..

…………..The Beginning.……...The Beginning.…….

► The last message I would like to leave you with is this…The last message I would like to leave you with is this…► Form effective alliances in the town.Form effective alliances in the town.► Distance yourselves from party political interestsDistance yourselves from party political interests► Resurrect an improved TCP to help develop a better Resurrect an improved TCP to help develop a better

StortfordStortford► If Henderson global development goes ahead make If Henderson global development goes ahead make

sure the results match the plans in every way..!sure the results match the plans in every way..!► Please keep everyone informed of your progressPlease keep everyone informed of your progress► DON’T give up on decisions you make, see them DON’T give up on decisions you make, see them

through..through..

Thank you..Thank you..