Stourbridge & District
Chamber of Trade
Meeting Minutes

Stourbridge & District Chamber of Trade Meeting
Thursday 9th October 2008 6.00pm The Well, Stourbridge

Apologies: Cllr Adams Rupert Dugdale Hannah Rogers

The President welcomed everyone and outlined the purpose of the meeting which was to ascertain the views of the traders and business people in the town about the proposed closure of the High Street and Market Street for a 6 month trial period every Saturday from mid November to allow for an alternative venue for the Farmers markets on every other Saturday.

The President regretted that he had not been personally informed about the proposals as also seemed to be the case for a number of traders in the town. He wanted to know where the proposals originated from and would give an official reply on behalf of the Chamber once the mood of the people had been established.

Roger Eames and peter Cox had carried out a survey on behalf of the Chamber and Roger then presented his report as follows>

“Good evening, I am Roger Eames, a past president of the Chamber of Trade. I have been involved in the retail trade in Stourbridge for over 30 years and my family have traded in the High Street from the 1800’s. Before I took up my current post I was Managing Director of Geoffrey Richard holdings for a number of years who traded in many of the top towns and shopping centre’s in the country.

On behalf of the Chamber together with my colleague Peter Cox we have visited a number of traders in the last few days and I have been asked to present a summary of our findings as an introduction to our meeting. Due to the short time slot available I appreciate that we have been unable to see everyone and I do apologize if you have not been visited.

Firstly I would like to say that over the last ten years significant progress has been made in developing Stourbridge with projects such as the Christmas lights, Stourbridge in Bloom and the various special events that now take place. These have only been possible as a result of the Chamber of Trade and the Council working closely together and in the process establishing a strong working relationship.

Sadly the events of the last 10 days are threatening to undo much of the goodwill and trust that has been established over the last ten years. As I have visited traders in the town I have heard remarks such as:-
This is pedestrianisation by the back door
There must be an ulterior motif it is so rushed
This will undo all the hard work that has gone into our traffic management meetings over the last two years
Why has there been no proper consultation
Why have so many people not received the letter that was sent out?
This will force us out of business
The Council will have to compensate us for loss of business
Can we take out an injunction to stop this happening?
This is the worst decision I have ever come across

I am not here to judge these comments however they certainly reflect a feeling of surprise, fear and anger that has been very clear as I have spoken to many traders. There have also been a minority of people who welcome the proposals although most have reservations.

Looking at specific concerns the main points are: _

Loss of car parking spaces – on a typical Saturday over 500 cars plus around 100 disabled vehicles park in the area that will be closed off. Parking within the ring road is always at a premium especially as we approach Christmas, what alternatives are being proposed to counter this crucial loss of parking? Will the multi storey car parks be free during these times to compensate for the loss of free parking? Add to this the fact that the Crown centre redevelopment that is due to start shortly will result in a 450 space multi storey car park being lost until the new one is built and is it little wonder that people are saying this is the most ill conceived and badly judged decision they have ever come across.

Deliveries – there are a significant number of coffee shops, restaurants and other eating establishments in the affected area most if not all of whom require daily deliveries of fresh products, it will be impossible on a regular basis for this to be achieved without access to the High Street, it is imperative therefore that these businesses are allowed to trade and to this end any road closure would have to allow deliveries. Other traders will also be requiring Saturday deliveries as we get nearer to Christmas whilst others have their own delivery vans that need constant access during the day to carry out their trade. There are no assurances in the proposal that this access will be granted, indeed the implication is that it will not.

We assume a full risk assessment has taken place and that the local emergency services are confident that they will be able to provide full cover in case of emergency. Are copies of the risk assessment available to reassure the public that this matter has received due consideration?

It has been said in the past that similar schemes work in other towns however most towns of our size have a traditional linear profile which allows for rear access, I do not know of any comparable town with its main shopping area in a V shape that prohibits rear deliveries for many stores. As far as other towns are concerned Stourbridge is very unusual in having a three lane ring road completely encircling the town in such a tight configuration which severely restricts the level of parking that can be made available within the ring road whilst at the same time creating a major barrier for those who park outside of the ring road. Stourbridge is far from typical in these respects and should not therefore be treated as if it is just like other centres.

The results of the survey we undertook are as follows:

2 shops – Card Warehouse and O2 are in favour
2 shops - TH Baker and Dorothy Perkins are in favour but not every week
4 shop – Adams, Select, Works and Somerfield do not mind
36 are against – W H Smith, Waitrose, Wilkinson, Bodycare, Gamestation, Harwayes, Card Factory, Iceland, Phones 4 U, Coffee Eclipse, Crown Books, Carphone Warehouse, Bon Marche, Holland and Barrett, Pargeters, Ethel Austin, Superdrug, Paperway, Well Coffee Shop, Hammond Hill, Morgans, Flower Basket, Stourbridge Music Centre, Kitchen Options, Copy and Print, David’s Deli, Books Unlimited, Martyr, Teli Video, Paperpalace, Hingley Fishing Tackle, Stourbridge Music School, DTB Investments, Gasway, Gionini, Ricky Hairdressers

Most people are not against the farmers market as such although there is concern that it is no longer a true farmers market just selling farm produce. If it was called down to be what it says it is then there may be other options that could be considered or alternatively it has been suggested that the market is moved to the Birmingham Street car park which is not used by shoppers and has a large area with easy access and its own parking.

I know there are a number of other specific issues that affect individual traders and opportunity will be given shortly for anyone who wishes to share their views to do so.

In concluding we are living at a time of world financial crisis which is impacting all of our businesses, we now have the added concern of a town in turmoil, we need a guarantee that not only will this proposal be totally withdrawn but nothing like it will be considered until after the completion of the Crown Centre redevelopment and then only with a proper period of consultation. The council must act promptly and decisively to try and regain some of the goodwill and confidence that has been lost through this ill conceived proposal.”

The President had planned to open the floor to Hannah Rogers to respond but regretted she had sent in her apologies.

Key points that were then raised from the floor included:-

Executive members of the Chamber had been talking with the council fro some time about traffic management not banning traffic which was a very different matter

Mr. Holliday said he thought it would be fantastic to see pedestrianisation

The mini survey was said to be limited, the results of the official survey will give everyone chance to have their voice heard

Howard Davies had visited an umber of towns before deciding to move into Stourbridge, his experience was that pedestrianised areas were not good for business, he said we can not afford to put people off coming into the town

Some thought 3 or 4 times a year was ok as people still came along because they did not know it would be closed off, a regular closure would have very different affect.

Suggestions were made about alternative sites such as the far end of Market street (the residential area could cause [problem here) Talbot street, under the Bell Street car park, Coventry Street, Ryemarket, Birmingham Street car park etc

The decline of Coventry Street was quoted as a good example of the damage pedestrianisation can do.

A number of traders in market Street that had not been part of the mini survey were all against the plans – it presented major problems for those with repair trade or those who needed regular access to their shops to make deliveries e.g. florist

When tried years ago shops closed as a result, others had to lay off staff, Pargeters had originally been in favour at that time but decline in sales plus difficulty with no access being possible to their own car park has changed their opinion and they are now against the proposal.

The new Crown Centre development does include a commitment from the council to ensure there is a market in the town in the future, Smithfield market also currently has a market license and has space available for rent if required.

Considerable amount of rubbish is left long after store holders have gone which at present is cleaned up by French Connection Bistro, concern over health issues if moved elsewhere. Has been a benefit to this business to have market.

Stables raised the question about windows being obliterated which permanent traders are paying significant rates for.

Town needs stimulus, free car parking would help, also shuttle service from Birmingham Street car park – lots of discussions are taking place as to what will happen when Bell Street multi storey is closed.

If plans go ahead could loose as many as 1000 cars a day that would have visited town, when old scheme was in operation the town was always much busier before 10 and after 4 when the streets were open.

If the plan goes ahead it would lead to dangerous increase in traffic circulating around lower High Street looking for spaces.

This matter should not even be on the agenda at present given all of the other developments in the town, if any plans are to be considered it should be after Crown Centre ahs been completed and then a proper consultation and debate could take place.

The general consensus was that if it works leave it – Stourbridge works as it is do not change it.