Call to stop Hereford shops moving from centre to old market site

9:20am Thursday 11th October 2012 in News By Paul Broome

Diggers moved onto the Old Livestock Market in Hereford this week Diggers moved onto the Old Livestock Market in Hereford this week

AS work finally gets underway at Hereford’s old livestock market, a independant business owner says promises to safeguard the future of the city’s High Town have been broken.

Luke Conod, owner of clothing shop FIT, says he was told by a contractor that River Island would not be returning to the city centre home damaged by fire two years ago as rents will be cheaper on the Old Market development.

Diggers this week moved onto the site that will become a multimillion pound retail development featuring Waitrose, Debenhams and a multiscreen cinema.

Luke says he was assuared by project bosses that national chains already based in and around High Town would not be moving across town.

But claims that River Island swapping High Town for the old livestock market goes against that promise and prompt fears that others would follow.

“Initially, just Next and one other retailer could be approached from the centre of Hereford – that was the agreement,” said Luke.

“Now, there seem to be no restrictions.”

River Island spokesman Rosie Day said that the firm “cannot comment at this present time” about any proposed move for its Hereford store.

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Comments(16)

fordshire77 says...
10:10am Thu 11 Oct 12

WOW.....I have to say, those JCBs look real busy and an empty skip! someone should set up a webcam looking over the site so we can all see this "Great" project in action!

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Lukio says...
10:19am Thu 11 Oct 12

This is what happens when a council sells its soul to a developer like Stanhope and employs a made up, non-elected body (Hereford Futures) to do its bidding.

Originally I understand that there were guarantees no retailers would be moving from High Town but already we see Next and possibly River Island going there. If the Council lowers rents in the OLM there'll be a mass exodus I'm sure. Stanhope have got HC stitched up like a kipper I reckon and a mixture of pig-headedness and ego-inflating will result in the scheme ploughing on regardless of the detrimental effect it will have on High Town.

If retailers like Fit are genuinely concerned, there must be a real danger in this. But there's plenty of people out there both on this forum and within the general populous who have swallowed the HC/HF spin and are lapping it up like it's the second coming of Christ. They think a multi-screen cinema, a posh supermarket and a freakin' Nando's are going to save this city.

I am NOT against developing Hereford. We need it desperately but is this scheme really the way forward? In a time when the economy is in the toilet and experts from across all industries are saying dont build new out of town shopping centres, develop what you already have. The future is in the high street, not in shopping malls.

There I've said my piece. I'm in a minority but I don't care. Just don't come on here in 4 years time saying what a boarded-up mess High Town has become.

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silentbull says...
10:25am Thu 11 Oct 12

I will come back and see mum tomorrow ok xxx

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RogerLFC says...
10:30am Thu 11 Oct 12

How long are we going to be stuck with the mega sized amount of scaffolding and sheeting around the old River Island burnt down shop then? It's been there years already!

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TwoWheelsGood says...
1:48pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Lukio - I'm 100% with you on your well expressed sentiments. Yes, we've been stitched up big time - original agreed sale of the site to Stanhope - £30m, currently down to £1m and probably 1p when the papers become available. The Council won't be setting rents on the site - they have cut and run and Stanhope will be calling the shots. Rents will be artificially low to attract tenants - the overall value of the site is enhanced by having tenants, once they're in, the site will be sold to a pension fund for a handsome profit, none of which will stay n the County. Its all so depressingly predictable.

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bobby47 says...
1:57pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Right! I'm done. We Posters sit here, day in and day out expressing our views on the decline of our home Hereford.
Sometimes we agree and sometimes we dont but, we all want the same few things. A decent and trustworthy leadership, a future for the kids of Hereford and for High Town and our home City to survive this recession.
The final nail in my little coffin box is the story about 'Hereford leading Britain out of recession'. I'm done. I'm getting angrier by the day, I'm taking to many diazepam and I say this.....
Our Postings do have some impact upon our crazy and deranged leadership but, they will never bring about the change we need so I say this......If we are serious, we've gotta get one of our number elected to fight from the inside. That person wont take a penny piece in salary, we all help out running that person around and we organise ourselves.
Once we've got some momentum going we all meet in some pub and decide who is going to do this.(It aint going to be me, but I would put all my weight behind the one who takes on this job.) If we aint serious this 'shout' will die a death and we'll all be doomed to being Hereford Times Posters untill the very end, which judging by the state of High Town, aint going to be very long away.

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William Rudd says...
8:27pm Thu 11 Oct 12

So you will still be sat on your arse then Bobby.Wait for someone else to do the dirty work for you then meet up for a few pints in the pub.You will probably be the bloke that when its your turn to buy the drinks you will sod off.

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William Rudd says...
8:32pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Roger.I'm with you on that point.Reason its not being worked on is because its a listed building which needs the input from English heritage who take 10 months to make a decision on the smallest of of issues.I can see it being six years before they all agree on how to re construct the building

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bobby47 says...
8:52pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Steady on Coucillor Rudd. No need to get nasty with me Will.
Ok. My call to arms has fallen flat. I give in.

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Lukio says...
9:03pm Thu 11 Oct 12

I'm here Bobby...and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't duck out of a round. I would not want to stand but would back one of us who does with all my might. I don't want the limelight but I'd get involved as I'm sure you would. I'm not sure I could take sitting in chambers with that shower!

And has anyone noticed how Cllr. Rudd only comes out of the woodwork when there's a story about the OLM? Makes me even more suspicious that he's HC, HF or even Stanhope.

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bobby47 says...
9:33pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Thanks Lukio. I do appreciate that comrade. I actually meant what I said and I do think it'd be good. Me? I couldn't do it. Like you I wouldn't want the limelight.
My warmest regards mate. And that includes you Councillor Rudd.

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apdor says...
10:35pm Thu 11 Oct 12

Not this old topic again. Its very boring.

Hereford needs regenerating. If it is not these stores will leave the town anyway.


The new site will actually bring shoppers into the county. business will grown and shops will want to be in Hereford. Once the new development is full, new businesses will then fill up the space in high town.

Why would a company want to be in Hereford if there not getting any shoppers and not making any money ?

Is it legal to enforce a business to locate its premise somewhere?

If thats the case maybe we should have a rule that says pensioners cant shop on Mondays, and teenagers cant visit between 1pm and 4pm....

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Lukio says...
7:05am Fri 12 Oct 12

@apdor - I think you're missing the point. HC I'm sure cannot force a relocation in these circumstances but if they lower rents in the OLM what's likely to happen? Shops can have a shiny new premises and not pay as much for it as they do in their current location. I know what I'd do if that was me.

And I'm not sure how you've come to the conclusion that if no regeneration is done shops will go anyway. What is your basis of this statement?

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richybeaver says...
10:09am Fri 12 Oct 12

What are you lot on?

Shopkeepers are perfectly entitled to move premises if they want.

What is the wording of this 'promise', and why does such a private 'arrangement' exist? I assume Luke Conod can produce a copy for all to read.

As has been said before, if Hereford wants to attract major national retailers, each needing 20 or 30 thousand square feet, where are they going to get that in High Town?

Please show me where we can fit Debenhams and Waitrose and a Multiplex Cinema, plus 500 parking spaces?

Or would you prefer us to remain in the retail stone age.

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drewbreath says...
1:46pm Fri 12 Oct 12

I'm told the shop rents in OLM are on a par, pro-rata, with those in prime position High Town. The advantage of OLM to multiple retailers includes access and configuration, not to mention Waitrose, Next, Debenhams TK Maxx, and the cinema. Most if not of the retailers opening in OLM are destination retailers in their own right, which means they're more than capable of generating custom without needing help from others.

Relocation by destination retailers creates problems for smaller traders when those smaller traders largely depend on passing trade generated by the destination retailers.

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probono says...
2:44pm Wed 17 Oct 12

Stop trying to kill our City off totally with constant criticism. Look what happened to the ring road - it would have been goverment funded, but the antis got their way. Council and everyone else sat back and waited for plan B, but governemnts gave money to sonmewhere else where the locals are united to support their community.

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