Is the Kingsholme about to go?

14 November 2011

The Dorktown News this morning carries a story that there yet more 'secret' talks on going about redeveloping the Abbey Street area of the town.  The wrecked pub The Kingsholme (I posted a photo a few days ago), is to go and the area around it being developed.  I think most people in the town would welcome that.  However, the story goes on to say that the Co-op car park would also be developed at the same time with a big name food store already on board.  Interesting that.  Am I missing something here?  The Co-op car park is the largest town centre car park at street level.  The problems with car parking in the surrounding streets is bad enough as it is without the disappearance of the Co-op car park.  And where will the shoppers using the new food store park?

When Woollies went bust they left a very large town centre store vacant.  T J Hughes took it on and gave up after just 10 months.  The store is vacant again and is supposed to be taken over by Poundland.  Poundland already have a store in the town so why do they need the large two story store that is currently vacant?  Surely it's not beyond our councillors meagre thought processes to encourage the food store to take on that site with it delivery yard already in place at the rear and not take away a valued car park.  I really feel that they keep these things secret so that they can hope to spring it on us as a signed and sealed deal so that we can't do anything about it.

At the time that the Ropewalk was planned and built.  The pub on the site called the Merivale, a popular town centre pub was lost during the development but at the time we were assured that a new pub would be built in its place.  However it hasn't shown up yet.  So how can we be assured on this new deal?  I don't know we can be.  But elections are due next year, maybe it's time we Dorktowners got on are hand legs and made them take notice through the ballot box!