o/t state of the town : Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:20 pm  

Yes, I paid a visit today given that I'm now not working, and almost wish I hadnt bothered! Because what I saw was pretty depressing I must say.
So alright Huddy's shopping streets are somewhat bedraggled by the recession, but compared to Keighley...! Especially the Airedale centre. If you took out the charity shops, and the 'pound' shops, then well...

And what happened with the front of the market?

Did I just pick a bad day, was I just a bit down because of my situation, or is Keighley extra grim looking at present?

Re: o/t state of the town : Thu Apr 16, 2009 7:29 pm  

StephanieM wrote:

Y
Did I just pick a bad day, was I just a bit down because of my situation, or is Keighley extra grim looking at present?

Could have been worse ....you could have ended up in Bradford... now that really is grim

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:40 pm  

I noticed, went back via 662 bus, and you are so right!

: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:31 pm  

It doesn't look too great, we notice when we come back aswell. As far as I know I think theyre doing some sort of improvements to the market entrance!

Re: o/t state of the town : Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:38 am  

StephanieM wrote:

Yes, I paid a visit today given that I'm now not working, and almost wish I hadnt bothered! Because what I saw was pretty depressing I must say.
So alright Huddy's shopping streets are somewhat bedraggled by the recession, but compared to Keighley...! Especially the Airedale centre. If you took out the charity shops, and the 'pound' shops, then well...

And what happened with the front of the market?

Did I just pick a bad day, was I just a bit down because of my situation, or is Keighley extra grim looking at present?

Big improvements are being made in my opinion, new supermarket new excellent looking college both of which will create more jobs church green has been done up and so I'd the entrance to Keighley Market, I think you were right you must of been having a bad day , Keighley isn't all that bad oh and down at the bottom of lawkholme lane there is a cracking rugby club too.!!!

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:20 am  

Yes Andrew, I know all too well about the cracking rugby league club, but I was primarily talking about the town centre when I was walking around.

The entrance to Keighley Market is currently a mess, but glad to hear its all for the right reasons. But market area was almost deserted yesterday when I was walking around it, but that may just be because its tricky to get in at present?

Glad to hear I was just looking in the wrong places.

Must say the bacon butty and coffee I had was good, cafe in the post office corner of the Airedale centre.

Job creation is good, only wish it was nearer for commuting in that case!

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 7:34 am  

The market is quiet your right about that, before I bought my own butchery business I was employed at a butchers in there and is was brilliant! Good crack and very buisy especially on a Saturday but them days appear to be long gone, hope spending money on it will improve the traders chances.

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:41 am  

Thing is, the new supermarket is another nail in the coffin for the old town centre.

If money was available (and it isn't at the moment), I would wipe the town centre and market off the map and rebuild them completely.

The market building is awful. It's not a market, it's market stalls shoved into an industrial unit. Markets should have atmosphere with fat butchers shouting stuff like "2 pound of best sirloin missus, and I'll chuck you a couple of breasts in "

The town centre is what it is...dated..1980s

I recently went to Liverpool with the other moderator Gues Who, on the annual moderators convention and it was amazing to see the thought that had gone into regenerating the centre there. New building dovetailed into the old City seamlessly.

I'm not for one minute suggesting we're on the scale of Liverpool, but there is a masterplan for the town which I bet most folk on here never even look at, but should be pushing forward.

The town centre needs opening up.

Sure, we have a new college, but we now have 2 old buildings that will be sat going derelict. I recently read a proposal that these could be used for retail ?!??! Are they serious?

And another thing, the Liverpool centre was litter and chewing gum free. Our new Bus station was covered in gum and Greggs wrappers in about 3 months flat. Scuffers.

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 8:51 am  

I'd heard the old college building was going to be turned into a hotel of sorts, was I misinformed aj?

: Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:46 am  

andrew aspinall wrote: I'd heard the old college building was going to be turned into a hotel of sorts, was I misinformed aj? The first proposal I heard was that it should be a hotel with conference facilities etc...which sounds a decent idea to me. http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/search/911777.High_class_hotel_plan_for_college_town_centre_site/ Then, in the KN a few weeks ago, some other ideas were mooted re retail: http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/search/4215432.You_ll_have_a_say_on_future_of_college_site/

andrew aspinall wrote: I'd heard the old college building was going to be turned into a hotel of sorts, was I misinformed aj? The first proposal I heard was that it should be a hotel with conference facilities etc...which sounds a decent idea to me. http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/search/911777.High_class_hotel_plan_for_college_town_centre_site/ Then, in the KN a few weeks ago, some other ideas were mooted re retail: http://www.keighleynews.co.uk/search/4215432.You_ll_have_a_say_on_future_of_college_site/