This is what it says on BCC's Liveable Neighbourhood pages on their website:
'Businesses
Evidence suggests that liveable neighbourhoods have no significant negative impact on business and retail. There's mounting evidence of positive effects on retail sales, rental value, and tax revenue.
Retailers sometimes overestimate the importance of customers arriving by car with many of their customers living nearby and arriving by foot.'
The very fact that they now see fit to offer 'adaptation grants' means they are accepting that this is a load of complete bullshit. And of course there's no data provided to back up these claims, no questioning of the fact that every locality is unique and it is completely irrelevant if trade in Hampstead Heath or wherever hasn't suffered. Plus the condescension... L. Pondweed of course knows so much better than retailers themselves how their customers arrive.
The only good thing about all this is that it keeps you and me out of mischief, John, isn't it.
I wouldn't say 'out of mischief' exactly, Helen. More like, keeping it up. But, as the old saying goes, in respect of the council website, 'if it smells like bullshit....etc, etc.
'Evidence SUGGESTS that LNs have no SIGNIFICANT negative impact... There's MOUNTING evidence.... Retailers SOMETIMES overestimate....'
If they are going to do something like this, they need to be able to put their hands on their hearts and write, ' Evidence PROVES that LNS have no negative impact AT ALL... There's ESTABLISHED evidence... Retailers ALWAYS overestimate...' But they can't, because they only speak Bullshitese.
Sorry went a bit Trump there and capitalised - no idea how to do italics on Substack comments...
And if customers are already arriving by foot then what exactly is the problem?
I've just returned from a trip to my local high street (ON FOOT) with an ominous postcard - South Glos want to know how we'd like to make Broad Street in Staple Hill better. Funded by UK Govt. Looks like I may be lying on the street, Arthur Dent/Barton Hill style to prevent contractors installing planters in the near future. Great.
Will stop foaming at the mouth and go and make tea...
This is what it says on BCC's Liveable Neighbourhood pages on their website:
'Businesses
Evidence suggests that liveable neighbourhoods have no significant negative impact on business and retail. There's mounting evidence of positive effects on retail sales, rental value, and tax revenue.
Retailers sometimes overestimate the importance of customers arriving by car with many of their customers living nearby and arriving by foot.'
The very fact that they now see fit to offer 'adaptation grants' means they are accepting that this is a load of complete bullshit. And of course there's no data provided to back up these claims, no questioning of the fact that every locality is unique and it is completely irrelevant if trade in Hampstead Heath or wherever hasn't suffered. Plus the condescension... L. Pondweed of course knows so much better than retailers themselves how their customers arrive.
The only good thing about all this is that it keeps you and me out of mischief, John, isn't it.
I wouldn't say 'out of mischief' exactly, Helen. More like, keeping it up. But, as the old saying goes, in respect of the council website, 'if it smells like bullshit....etc, etc.
'Evidence SUGGESTS that LNs have no SIGNIFICANT negative impact... There's MOUNTING evidence.... Retailers SOMETIMES overestimate....'
If they are going to do something like this, they need to be able to put their hands on their hearts and write, ' Evidence PROVES that LNS have no negative impact AT ALL... There's ESTABLISHED evidence... Retailers ALWAYS overestimate...' But they can't, because they only speak Bullshitese.
Sorry went a bit Trump there and capitalised - no idea how to do italics on Substack comments...
And if customers are already arriving by foot then what exactly is the problem?
I've just returned from a trip to my local high street (ON FOOT) with an ominous postcard - South Glos want to know how we'd like to make Broad Street in Staple Hill better. Funded by UK Govt. Looks like I may be lying on the street, Arthur Dent/Barton Hill style to prevent contractors installing planters in the near future. Great.
Will stop foaming at the mouth and go and make tea...