WH Smith in Liscard could be closing down. A petition to save it is under way and can be signed in the store. I was talking to the staff today and we have all said we hope another charity shop doesn't open as this could be the end of Liscard as more big name stores leave the town.
When I first walked through Cherry Square in the 70's it was a vibrant place, it is a very different story these days. It's very sad but also a reflection of both the financial times we live in and also a change of shopping habits. We all love a bargain and a lot of people will look in store then buy cheaper on line. That doesnt mean people would buy their admin stuff or stationary online rather than call into the store but it also reflects on passing trade too, those people who may have gone to town for one thing then gone into the store simply because they were passing by or through. Its a shame.
When I first walked through Cherry Square in the 70's it was a vibrant place,
It was a pleasure to shop there then. Marks & Spencer, Littlewoods, Currys, Menzies, Woollies and the big Co-op.Just look at it now. Cheapo shops, charity shops, money lending shops. Dear me, how times have changed.
i remember going the Kwik Save with my mum 30+ years ago in Liscard, on the corner over the road from the wellie, also I remember as a kid when they had all the floats driving through liscard up to New Brighton for the Wirral show
Once upon a time parking was easy and free, now I understand they have or about to raise the charges. Having said that, once upon a time I was capable (and did frequently) of walking there and back.
Smiths lost most of it's customers when it shut the entertainment section upstairs and now has a very very small one downstairs, i loved going in there to the upstairs bit for a browse at the CD's etc, same with woolies when that was there, always had a browse at the CD's and games in there. with gamestation going, grainger is the only place in liscard that sells games and nowhere sells CD's there anymore so the "younger generation" haven't got a reason to go there anymore, i've just turned 26 and the only reason i still go to liscard is because it's close to where i work (VCH) otherwise there's nothing really there for people my age to go and buy stuff, even my girlfriend who's 22 says there's no shops for girls to go and spend money, the new look there is cr*p and has the old stuff that the bigger stores no longer want. sure it's expensive to get to liverpool these days, but it's worth it if you're going for a shop or even just for a browse. unless you're heading into liscard with the aim and knowledge that what you want IS there, there's no reason to go. it's a shame, it was a nice place to go and have a look round and ultimately buy a few things, now you can't do that, if it isn't charity shops it's £ shops or cash converters/cash generator/money lending shops or cheap shops ie B&M, Home Bargains, Heron etc. what it needs is a couple of 'big' shops to open/re-open and put it back on the map, something like a HMV, The Entertainer, Sports Direct, Next, Oasis, even H&M or Schuh just two or three shops that people will go to "for a browse" because there's nothing to do there as it stands... heck even a bloody Ann Summers might make the place seem less miserable.
much in the same way Bromborough Retail Park is becoming, or what Cheshire Oaks has become, nobody goes to cheshire oaks knowing EXACTLY what they want, everyone goes to have a wander round and see what there is, Liscard should try and do the same, just make people want to go and have a look at the very least.
Once upon a time parking was easy and free, now I understand they have or about to raise the charges. Having said that, once upon a time I was capable (and did frequently) of walking there and back.
in Monk road (behind McDonalds) and other roads around Liscard you can park on one side of them for 90 minutes for free... save yourself a quid or two.
Tesco blight is what it is. Same every place you visit throughout the land, big Tesco's on the outskirts of town and charity shops all over the town centres themselves. You get what you pay for. Mind you, Tesco aren't the only ones but the symptoms and results are the same. Big shopping mals are another pain in the rear end. Was in Paphos recently and they've opened a big mal just outside Paphos, small businesses are shutting down already and the paint isn't dry yet.
I shop in Liscard a few times a week, compared to many shopping centres I think Liscard is actually doing okay. The Cherry Tree has only a few empty units and I would guess is trading profitably.
I Like Liscard its not the most functional or the prettiest shopping centre, it sells what most people want but it doesnt do much in the way of quality or fashion, getting rid of the parking fees would solve most problems. Marine Point in New Brighton is a good example of how free parking works for a leisure/destination offer.
WH Smith is a paper based - High Street thing trying to survive in a digital age, it will eventually evolve to match its market or die trying, not saying thats a good thing, it just is.
Bricks, Mortar, Electricity, Transportation, Business Rates and Mammals cost way more than a Website that on the whole looks after itself.
Be sorry to see it go, should move the post office in there.
I don't often use Liscard shopping centre however on the few occasions I do, I find the car parks are full, eliminating parking fees would make access worse for many people. What is needed is a council that comes up with a parking strategy that attempts to meet demand.
Wirral council has still not repealed its planning policy on the maximum number of parking spaces for new developments which means any developer wanting to have more parking spaces than the specified level has to jump through hoops and beg to be allowed the number of parking spaces they want to provide.
While the government introduced the maximum system, they have since repealed it (as have many councils). Why the concept of a maximum ever existed is beyond my ken, I would be specifying stricter minimums.
We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn
The car Park behind Tesco is always empty.....always.
We need leadership to develop a plan that meets the needs of all stakeholders, communities, business and developers, a strategy that drives the economy and builds on a vision.
When Liverpool One was mooted, it started from culture, aspiration and making the best of the available assets , not a conversation about parking. Agreed we need a clear policy, but its part of a strategy not the starting point.
Free parking is a quick fix, it would increase the accessibility for those with less money and drive down the unit cost of goods.
Make the car park behind Tesco free for two hours, would put money on the one with charges being empty of shoppers and the centre having increases in footfall and spend.
We need leadership both elected, accountable and enterprising locally. We have done for some time.
Make sure you vote people, oh and shop local/independent.
