Vital Kingston

Your Views on the Campaign

Friday, January 22, 2010

Borders was a rare oasis in Kingston - a ‘third place' - a place for local people to meet. But who is moving in now? Another clothes shop that rolls down the shutters at 6 o'clock?

At night, Kingston's historic central Market Place is left looking like THIS...

 

....when it could be like THIS!

 

It can be different. Read more About Third Places

Borders was a great place for locals to meet day or evening. Our campaign is for the building to continue to be a place where we can go out, meet and enjoy ourselves - bringing life to the Market Square.  What do you think ?

I agree wholeheartedly with the thinking behind this proposal, the last thing we need is another national or international chain. The marketplace, with the market is vital to the town, and the Borders site should add to the opportunities for small and artisan businesses, workshops even. It could become an extension of the outdoor market, with the building providing more facilities than can practically be provided for with outdoor stalls. I recall this site many years ago being used in a similar way, but becoming unkempt as the fabric of the building was neglected. If the building is to be split between users, a reliable plan for its upkeep in totality must be put in place.
I am concerned that the proposal sketched out here is a little too much \'more of the same\' There are several independent cafés in and around the ancient marketplace, so much so that the Applemarket is now lost to market trading. The future of the Rose theatre is not yet secure, and the Rose boasts an underused studio theatre space, ideal for cabaret as well as another café... Does the demand exist for more?

Thanks for your comment Martin. The honest answer is I don't know, but we are hoping to find out in the course of this campaign. Certainly the Apple Market and the Rose don't do much to create the 'buzz' that you would find in the central plaza in any significant town in Europe. At least in Borders there were books and events. I hope that we can improve on that - anything but another pound shop!

I'm hoping too that it will turn into something beneficial for the community. It's a huge old expensive building so I'm guessing it will have to go to a commercial concern and not to artisan workshops etc. What I really really hope doesn't happen is that it turns into a clothes shop or similar. I recall reading in the Comet when Woolworths closed that the town centre manager was hoping it would become another fashion outlet. I can't imagine anything we need less.

I agree with your assessment, the likelihood is that another clothing retailer will move in. But if we can make clear to businesses that their success lies in a more thriving community, then maybe we can pursuade them that a mixture of uses for the town centre is more appropriate than wall to wall clothes shops.

Great comment DS. Personally I feel that 'community' doesn't have to equal 'tat'. It doesn't in other countries. But I agree we just seem to have become dependent upon big business to set the standards. I am not sure that it is in our interests to give up all our prime spaces to chain stores, but if we do, then at least let's negotiate a decent range of places to go.

Don't forget the Market House, which could be the focus for all kinds of community activities - and is empty more often than not.

I know we hardly need another cafe in the town centre, but when I hire space in the Market House, as I do sometimes for my choir, we miss having a cafe in the building. somewhere to meet informally before and after rehearsals.

We usually rehearse in the Rose, which we love - and there is a bit of daytime capacity there, but you do have to be very flexible to use it, and recognise that it is first and foremost a theatre that has to try to pay its way, so it's not ideal for everyone.