The Mass Ealing Exodus Fuels Fears for the Broadway...
But could it actually spark a move in the right direction?
The big Broadway news this week was for once not 'Leaf' focused, but directed at Ealing's 'leavers'. And it has sparked calls for Council action.
Four Arcadia-owned big high street brands have announced they will soon be shutting up Ealing shop, hot on the heels of Miss Selfridge's exit at the end of 2007. It doesn't inspire confidence in a shopping centre that is already looking like a pound shop invitation.
Or could this actually be the start of something good at last? Could we be at the all-time low Ealing needed to sink to before it could start to claw its way back out?
The question now is what happens next, and it's being directed at the council.
"Ealing is at a cross roads and we do need to look closely at what we are doing with the town centre to secure its future," said Steve Breen, manager of Ealing Broadway Business Improvement District."When I look at other nearby centres, I see they have another layer of shops, which we have never had in Ealing but need to start bringing in.
"We have two big developers interested in putting money into the centre of Ealing, and although we don't have to accept the proposals which are in front of us now, we have to make sure we do not let them go."
He also called for improvements in the local infrastructure."The standard of the paving in the town centre at the moment leaves a lot to be desired, and we need things like new bike racks, seating and lights," he said. "We need to support private investment with public investment in order to make Ealing a nicer place to come to."
The word on the streets
On the EalingToday forum, members don't seem dismayed at an Ealing without the Evans and Dorothy Perkins of the world and there is a call for more sole trader shops so EalingToday had a word with some of those independents...
Local shop owner Alice Whiteley says that without Council and local support this will never happen. She brought her upmarket kids' store to New Broadway nine months ago. Loop is unique, innovative and environmentally friendly - buying and selling second kids' clothes, but that doesn't mean it will survive without a fight in Ealing. "'I can totally relate to why Arcadia have moved out of the area and agree that it is a real shame," said Alice. "The reality is that rents are a real challenge - particularly for small owner-managed businesses like mine. I am optimistic about the future though and believe that Ealing has a lot more potential than the current retail mix would suggest. I think developments like Dickens Yard will have a positive knock on effect in moving the area more upmarket. "I think it is down to the Council, landlords and developers to make this happen. A lot of them just aren't supportive enough and aren't ready to take risks on the smaller businesses. It took me a lot of time and energy to convince my landlord to take me and the rents are large. I also think those who live in Ealing need to support their local shops - so much nicer shopping locally and being recognised than flogging into town or some anonymous supermarket! Unless people shop locally the right retailers won't be attracted to the area." |
Babye director Elizabeth Pilgrim feels that the exodus of the latest shops although worrying, is indicative of the retail climate in general. "I think that retailers at the budget end and high end shops like mine are the only ones that will survive in our town centres. Retailers like Primark have done a fantastic job over the last few years to offer exciting products to customers at prices that are very affordable. This means that competing retailers in the middle arena are facing the hard reality that what they offer is no different to Primark but is more expensive and still may be produced with the same Far Eastern suppliers. I think customers who want that kind of product have woken up to the fact that they can buy from retailers like Primark at a much cheaper cost. There is definitely a place for this kind of retailer and I don’t think it should be segmented into a pure ‘pound shop’ category. I have heard that Primark will be installing a brand new fit out which is exciting. "I am not sure what the answer is to Ealing’s shopping problems – we definitely need more independents like me who are willing to risk it all and open up their dream shop… If I had the capital I would love to have a go at opening up other nice shops and make Ealing a place that we can all be proud of – I would love to open a new bookshop, sadly Corbetts closed last year, a butchers, a decent shoe shop, a nice bakery, toy shop, furniture, children’s clothes, men’s clothes, handbags, fishmongers and lots more! "I am excited about the Glenkerrin and Dickens Yard developments and think that Ealing Shopping will change beyond recognition over the next 3-5 years. The reason we don’t currently have the top end retailers here is because of the spaces available and now that all the leases are either short term (Glenkerrin site) or up in the air because the site is up for sale (Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre), there is going to be little chance of getting decent retailers to move in, in the short term. "To make matters worse, the local opposition to Glenkerrin hasn’t helped – as a local resident and business owner, I am more concerned about the planned Heathrow expansion and the fact that most of Ealing will be in the flight path if it’s not stopped than having our stylish new Leaf building that I absolutely love even if it is really tall. Having some high rise buildings could actually help Ealing as the planes wouldn’t be allowed to fly over so could actually end up doing Ealing a favour, our environment will be hugely affected by this far more than by a development designed by one of the top architects in the UK." |
Charlie Canniff
January 10, 2008
Related links
|
