A NEW public exhibition is planned so people can look at proposals that could change the shopping face of Beverley forever.
The massive £120 million proposed redevelopment of Flemingate in Beverley has split the community.
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Shop till you drop: An artist’s impression of the new Flemingate development.
Companies behind the scheme, which will include shops, a college, a cinema and a hotel, say it will bring more people to the town.
But traders in Beverley's historic town centre have objected, fearing it would hit them hard by creating another retail core on the edge of town.
About 500 householders living near the site were sent plans of the proposal in February. Hundreds more attended an exhibition at the Beverley Arms Hotel.
A spokesman for lead developer Wykeland said: "The public's interest in the proposed redevelopment of Flemingate, Beverley, has been so great that the consortium behind the scheme feels it is necessary to provide the public with better access to the submitted application."
The exhibition will be held in the south transept of Beverley Minister, starting this Monday and ending on Friday, June 1.
In addition to a scale model of the development, a series of pop-up displays will show a range of alternative views of the proposed development and a plan of the entire site. Some literature will be available and visitors will be encouraged to send their views in to the consortium, which consists of the Hull-based Wykeland Group, the C P Group of Hessle and Quintain Estates and Development PLC.
The group has now submitted a full planning application to develop retail units, a cinema, hotel, restaurants, office accommodation, a multi-storey car park and a community centre. The site will also house the Beverley campus of the East Riding College.
The scheme has won the backing of East Riding Council Leader Stephen Parnaby and outgoing Beverley mayor Peter Astell.
But, because the planned retail area was increased by 34 per cent from that originally proposed, Beverley and District Chamber of Trade has officially objected.
The chamber elected David Bird, boss of Carol Bird Interiors, in North Bar Within, Beverley, to speak on its behalf in relation to the proposals.
He said: "There can be no doubt that this scale of development would harm the existing town centre dramatically.
"Imagine if some existing retailers moved out – Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Wilkinson, Boots, WHSmith. Who in this climate would move in?
"The rents in the new development would no doubt be lower than town centre, with easier access for deliveries, larger windows, easier to staff and therefore more attractive to multiple retailers.
"Consider what has happened in Hull where St Stephen's for all its success has served to move retailers around, leaving much of Whitefriargate and Princes Quay empty.
"It is vital that Beverley does not go the same way.
"It is my view that the changes proposed amount to a significant departure from the original approved scheme.
"As such, should the council not turn the application down, I will be writing to the inspector to request that the application be called in for public enquiry."
While welcoming the exhibition, staff at Beverley Minster have asked visitors to respect any services that might be held during that time.
The exhibition will not be open on Sundays. Visit www.east riding.gov.uk/newpublicaccess and enter the reference number 12/01031/STPLFE to view the plans.
Shopping campaign is a beacon of excellence - North West Evening Mail
Published at 08:54, Saturday, 19 May 2012
THE Lanes Shopping Centre in Carlisle has won a marketing award for using local people in an advertising campaign.
Commercial director David Jackson and marketing manager Janet Murray collected the award at a dinner in London.
Marketing experts from across the retail property industry were celebrated at the annual shopping centre marketing awards, organised by British Council for Shopping Centres.
Janet said: “We initiated a campaign using local faces to reflect our retail brands and create a clear identity for The Lanes, producing a set of commercials that were eye-catching, retail focused and unique to Carlisle.”
The feedback from the BCSC marketing awards said the campaing showed; “strong involvement with retailers and encouraging performance in both sales and footfall”.
It added: “Using store managers in the TV adverts to promote brands is truly collaborative. The inclusion of external observations from other business shows the impact and a noticeable difference locally.
“And rarely do you see this level of participation or collaboration with retailers when putting together a marketing campaign.”
The award was presented by rugby player Austin Healey.
Joe Hendry, leader-elect for Carlisle City Council, said: “I’d like to pass on my congratulations to The Lanes in achieving this nationally recognised marketing award.
“Collaboration with their retailers and local businesses has proven to be a success for all concerned. Their innovative approach should be commended, well done to The Lanes.”
Last week, The Lanes retailer Debenhams announced it was planning a multi million upgrade to its store, due to begin on May 28.
PMcClounie@cngroup.co.uk
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
Building work at Bluewater dining area takes shape (From This Is Local London) - This is london Calling
Building work at Bluewater dining area takes shape
2:50pm Saturday 19th May 2012 in News By Jim Palmer
CONSTRUCTION is well underway at Bluewater shopping centre’s Wintergarden dining area.
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson visited the building work last Friday (May 11) to mark the completion of the pouring of 200,000 litres of concrete to support the floor.
When it is completed in the Autumn, the Wintergarden will seat 50 per cent more diners, with 1,000 places and ten food brands.
Mr Johnson said: “It is very exciting to see Bluewater evolving once again. The redevelopment of the Wintergarden joins the Plaza and Glow in broadening Bluewater's already extensive offer, not only for visitors from throughout the South East, but for the immediate local community.
"I am also delighted, but not surprised, that Bluewater remains committed to creating other benefits for the community through this project, including employment and training."
Chance to learn more about Town Team plan for Buxton - buxtonadvertiser.co.uk
THE group behind Buxton’s bid for a share of Portas funding are holding a Town Team Workshop later this month.
The Buxton Portas Group are hoping to become one of 12 “Portas Pilots” – towns which will test out recommendations made by shopping tsar Mary Portas in a government- commissioned report aimed at reviving the country’s high streets and town centres.
A Town Team is a key element of the effort to revive Buxton and this aspect of the project will go ahead whether or not the bid is successful.
The workshop will explain more about the team and give people the chance to have their say.
Voluntary groups and private businesses have been invited but the event is open to anyone who can make a contribution.
The workshop is on May 28 from 7pm to 9.30pm. The venue is not yet confirmed but space is limited so anyone wanting to attend should email their name, organisation (if any) and a contact phone number to pilotgroup@buxtontownteam.org.uk.
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Sawnee EMC announces rate decrease - Access North GA
The reduction is tied to an adjustment in the wholesale price Sawnee pays for power - the Wholesale Power Cost Adjustment (WPCA). The WPCA is a component of the retail rates by which most Sawnee EMC electric accounts are billed.
For Sawnee EMC electricity billed in the month of June, and until further notice, the WPCA factor will be reduced to $0.018165/kWh from its previous rate of $0.0220/kWh. This action affects all Sawnee EMC residential members and most commercial accounts by effectively lowering the amount each member pays for their electricity.
The projected savings for an average account that uses 1,500 kWh would be approximately six dollars per month. However, the actual dollar savings will vary depending on the level of energy usage; should a Sawnee EMC member average more electricity usage in a month, they will see even greater dollar savings, according to EMC officials.
For a number of reasons, we have experienced a reduction in our purchased power expenses for the year, and as a cooperative, we strive to pass these savings along to our members, said Michael Goodroe, President and CEO of Sawnee EMC. We are very pleased to be able to deploy a retail rate decrease, especially going into the summer when most members have higher usage. Of course, lower rates are always welcome news no matter what time of the year it is.
Blake House, Vice President of Member Services, added, We will continue to monitor the factors that drive our cost and that influence the WPCA and should we see lower costs, it would be our hope that we could pass these savings along to our members with further reductions; however, this all hinges on future costswhich are obviously unknown at this time.
Sawnee has customers in Fulton, Cherokee, Dawson, Forsyth, Lumpkin, Hall and Gwinnett counties.
For additional information or questions regarding WPCA or any aspect of your Sawnee EMC account, you can call 770-887-2363 or email at customerservice@sawnee.com.
Wheelchair dog walker injured - thisissomerset.co.uk
A woman collapsed and injured her knee while out shopping with her three dogs – in a wheelchair. Great Western Ambulance Service received a 999 call on Wednesday from Swindon shopping centre staff reporting that the woman had collapsed as she pushed her wheelchair accompanied by the three dogs – including two hearing dogs, as she is deaf. An ambulance crew and a rapid-response vehicle went to the scene to assess the patient and took the clinical decision that she needed to go to hospital for further treatment to her injured knee.
China's e-shopping market to be world's biggest - Daily Pioneer
The China Business Development Report Forecast (2011-2012) was released this week by the National Academy of Economic Strategy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Daily reported.
The report, however, said that the thriving online market was not enough to cover up the problems in the general circulation industry.
Jing Linbo, vice-president of the organisation, said the reasons behind this were enterprises scattered with low concentration, less competitive market, lack of theoretical research, and the need for improvement of personnel training.
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