Retail guru Mary Portas visits Nelson

Updated 7:52pm Tuesday 29th January 2013 in Pendle

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  • SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent.
  • The town was one of 12 in the UK to become a 'Portas Town', receiving funding and expertise to transform its high street.
  • Since receiving the funding council bosses have teamed up with Nelson and Colne College students to offer a new dimenson to the likes of Scotland Road, Manchester Road and Leeds Road.

7:52pm

Here's a video of Mary Portas in Nelson today.

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4:47pm Tue 29 Jan 13

sim1846 says

Hmm, As I have said before, your not going to get Pendle back on its Feet until you have a direct rail link with, Manchester , Leeds and Bradford City Regions, I urge everyone that lives in pendle to support the Colne to Skipton rail line reopening scheme, as its you that will benefit, with Private investment in Homes, Jobs, Health Care, Colleges and Uni and Tourism, Pendle was once a great place to live, work and play, but that was when we had great links to other regions before 1970's.

Hmm, as for the shopping Center, your not going to get any new retail shops opening up in there until the business owners reinvent its use, as a multi use Center, most shopping centers around the world have Swimming pools, Ten Pin bowling, Cinemas, Ice Rinks, etc.

As for the vacant bus station under the Multi story car park, why hasn't this been used as a Open Market for the Town. to replace the one that was pulled down.

Back to the rail link campaign SELRAP, which has been trying to get this rail line reopened since 2001, is getting funds together for the next step in the process which is the GRIP 3 study, Funds are needed for Part 1A of the study which will be in the region of £12,000, Now Lancashire CC, seems to want the A56 Bypass, project which will only benefit about 55% of the population of Pendle, and isn't interested in funding the rail line study, Pendle Council is however very supportive of this rail project as is going to funds some of the study.

SELRAP contact details can be found at: www.selrap.org.uk
if anyone in Pendle can help with some of the funding for this Vital Rail Transport Project for East Lancashire SELRAP would be very greatful, and shame on Lancashire County Council who dont even let Pendle council know whats going on with the Bypass study.
I say Sack all of those LCC Transport Planning Officers, and those County Councilors that Don't want Pendle to be any part of a connected region by Rail.

3:45pm

HAVE YOUR SAY

What's your view of the Portas Pilot plan?

Is £100,000 enough money to regenerate a town's high street?

Should we accept that online shopping has changed the way we shop?

Have you noticed a difference in Nelson since it received its Portas Pilot grant?

Have your say in the comments section below, or tweet your views to @lancstelegraph

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2:36pm Tue 29 Jan 13

clickhere says

"SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent."

Her £100,000???? As a taxpayer, that's my money.

How much has Hyndburn (and plenty of other local authorities) spent on failed Portas bids?
All for a chance of getting £100,00, which in the scheme of things, for Accrington, is peanuts.

Meanwhile Great Harwoods Conservation Area update (first for 35 years) is stalled due to no money and no officer time available.

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2:20pm Tue 29 Jan 13

mavrick says

After all the hype she has achieved exactly what? The people in council offices know more about the problems than she ever will. If the answer was simple don't the people concerned not realise the councils would have done it. I don't know why they think some minor t.v celeb will change anything. even the £100.000 will do very little for a town centre.

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1:58pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Citsmiff says

"SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent."

When she finds out can she tell the rest of us?

Theres no apparent evidence that that sort of money has been spent on Nelsons town centre. Still lots of empty shops not to mention vacant stalls on the market.

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1:36pm

SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent.

The town was one of 12 in the UK to become a 'Portas Town', receiving funding and expertise to transform its high street.

Mary Portas, who found fame with her BBC show ‘Mary Queen of Shops’ was commissioned by Prime Minister David Cameron to find 12 Portas Pilots – which would receive the support of the government, Whitehall, and Mary herself, as well as a share of £1million.

Since receiving the funding council bosses have teamed up with Nelson and Colne College students to offer a new dimenson to the likes of Scotland Road, Manchester Road and Leeds Road.

An arts and vintage market was one of the centrepiece events last October and a flashmob descended on the Lancashire Day celebrations in November.

Further schemes like a student loyalty card and 20-foot high designs on the side of Pendle Rise shopping centre are also being trialled.

Comments (11)

1:58pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Citsmiff says...

"SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent."

When she finds out can she tell the rest of us?

Theres no apparent evidence that that sort of money has been spent on Nelsons town centre. Still lots of empty shops not to mention vacant stalls on the market.
"SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent." When she finds out can she tell the rest of us? Theres no apparent evidence that that sort of money has been spent on Nelsons town centre. Still lots of empty shops not to mention vacant stalls on the market. Citsmiff

2:08pm Tue 29 Jan 13

burner says...

Where did she park?
Where did she park? burner

2:20pm Tue 29 Jan 13

mavrick says...

After all the hype she has achieved exactly what? The people in council offices know more about the problems than she ever will. If the answer was simple don't the people concerned not realise the councils would have done it. I don't know why they think some minor t.v celeb will change anything. even the £100.000 will do very little for a town centre.
After all the hype she has achieved exactly what? The people in council offices know more about the problems than she ever will. If the answer was simple don't the people concerned not realise the councils would have done it. I don't know why they think some minor t.v celeb will change anything. even the £100.000 will do very little for a town centre. mavrick

2:36pm Tue 29 Jan 13

clickhere says...

"SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent."

Her £100,000???? As a taxpayer, that's my money.

How much has Hyndburn (and plenty of other local authorities) spent on failed Portas bids?
All for a chance of getting £100,00, which in the scheme of things, for Accrington, is peanuts.

Meanwhile Great Harwoods Conservation Area update (first for 35 years) is stalled due to no money and no officer time available.
"SHOPPING guru Mary Portas is visiting Nelson for the first time today to see where her £100,000 has been spent." Her £100,000???? As a taxpayer, that's my money. How much has Hyndburn (and plenty of other local authorities) spent on failed Portas bids? All for a chance of getting £100,00, which in the scheme of things, for Accrington, is peanuts. Meanwhile Great Harwoods Conservation Area update (first for 35 years) is stalled due to no money and no officer time available. clickhere

3:42pm Tue 29 Jan 13

shytalk says...

Mary Portas visitng Nelson...Aww how sad..Never mind am sure she will get over it.
Mary Portas visitng Nelson...Aww how sad..Never mind am sure she will get over it. shytalk

4:47pm Tue 29 Jan 13

sim1846 says...

Hmm, As I have said before, your not going to get Pendle back on its Feet until you have a direct rail link with, Manchester , Leeds and Bradford City Regions, I urge everyone that lives in pendle to support the Colne to Skipton rail line reopening scheme, as its you that will benefit, with Private investment in Homes, Jobs, Health Care, Colleges and Uni and Tourism, Pendle was once a great place to live, work and play, but that was when we had great links to other regions before 1970's.

Hmm, as for the shopping Center, your not going to get any new retail shops opening up in there until the business owners reinvent its use, as a multi use Center, most shopping centers around the world have Swimming pools, Ten Pin bowling, Cinemas, Ice Rinks, etc.

As for the vacant bus station under the Multi story car park, why hasn't this been used as a Open Market for the Town. to replace the one that was pulled down.

Back to the rail link campaign SELRAP, which has been trying to get this rail line reopened since 2001, is getting funds together for the next step in the process which is the GRIP 3 study, Funds are needed for Part 1A of the study which will be in the region of £12,000, Now Lancashire CC, seems to want the A56 Bypass, project which will only benefit about 55% of the population of Pendle, and isn't interested in funding the rail line study, Pendle Council is however very supportive of this rail project as is going to funds some of the study.

SELRAP contact details can be found at: www.selrap.org.uk
if anyone in Pendle can help with some of the funding for this Vital Rail Transport Project for East Lancashire SELRAP would be very greatful, and shame on Lancashire County Council who dont even let Pendle council know whats going on with the Bypass study.
I say Sack all of those LCC Transport Planning Officers, and those County Councilors that Don't want Pendle to be any part of a connected region by Rail.
Hmm, As I have said before, your not going to get Pendle back on its Feet until you have a direct rail link with, Manchester , Leeds and Bradford City Regions, I urge everyone that lives in pendle to support the Colne to Skipton rail line reopening scheme, as its you that will benefit, with Private investment in Homes, Jobs, Health Care, Colleges and Uni and Tourism, Pendle was once a great place to live, work and play, but that was when we had great links to other regions before 1970's. Hmm, as for the shopping Center, your not going to get any new retail shops opening up in there until the business owners reinvent its use, as a multi use Center, most shopping centers around the world have Swimming pools, Ten Pin bowling, Cinemas, Ice Rinks, etc. As for the vacant bus station under the Multi story car park, why hasn't this been used as a Open Market for the Town. to replace the one that was pulled down. Back to the rail link campaign SELRAP, which has been trying to get this rail line reopened since 2001, is getting funds together for the next step in the process which is the GRIP 3 study, Funds are needed for Part 1A of the study which will be in the region of £12,000, Now Lancashire CC, seems to want the A56 Bypass, project which will only benefit about 55% of the population of Pendle, and isn't interested in funding the rail line study, Pendle Council is however very supportive of this rail project as is going to funds some of the study. SELRAP contact details can be found at: www.selrap.org.uk if anyone in Pendle can help with some of the funding for this Vital Rail Transport Project for East Lancashire SELRAP would be very greatful, and shame on Lancashire County Council who dont even let Pendle council know whats going on with the Bypass study. I say Sack all of those LCC Transport Planning Officers, and those County Councilors that Don't want Pendle to be any part of a connected region by Rail. sim1846

7:17pm Tue 29 Jan 13

ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123 says...

my God hear we go again about the abortive fuitile attempts to get the line to Skipton open,this town has died within the last 15 years nothing to do with the line closure,save your money the line wont be opening as it will never never NEVER be financially viable,,
my God hear we go again about the abortive fuitile attempts to get the line to Skipton open,this town has died within the last 15 years nothing to do with the line closure,save your money the line wont be opening as it will never never NEVER be financially viable,, ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123

7:55pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Lord_Lucan says...

Mary Portas = all fur coat and no knickers. If she really wanted to know what Nelson's issues are she should have walked around with a few residents and not with a media circus accompanied by self serving politicians like Cllr Paul White. What has he achieved regeneration wise in Nelson? Short answer - zilch, nothing. Pendle Council's attempts at regeneration are a disgrace.
Mary Portas = all fur coat and no knickers. If she really wanted to know what Nelson's issues are she should have walked around with a few residents and not with a media circus accompanied by self serving politicians like Cllr Paul White. What has he achieved regeneration wise in Nelson? Short answer - zilch, nothing. Pendle Council's attempts at regeneration are a disgrace. Lord_Lucan

8:06pm Tue 29 Jan 13

Kevin, Colne says...

Sim1846 says: ‘ Hmm, as for the shopping Center, your not going to get any new retail shops opening up in there until the business owners reinvent its use, as a multi use Center, most shopping centers around the world have Swimming pools, Ten Pin bowling, Cinemas, Ice Rinks, etc.’

I hope that you will forgive me if I am wrong but as best I can tell Pendle Council has been following a multi-use strategy for the centre of Nelson for quite some time with Pendle Wavelengths and Inside Spa and the ACE Centre, which I believe includes a cinema facility.

I am not sure how private business owners could do the same without risk of bankruptcy. The ‘cinema’ and ‘Ten Pin Bowling’ town for the Burnley-Nelson-Colne axis is Burnley and I have to say in all honesty that I doubt very much that establishing competing facilities 3 miles further east in Nelson would last very long, notwithstanding the technological changes that are on the horizon in terms of viewing films through streaming etc. I do not know where the nearest ice rink facility is located, but this is largely a minority interest and I would have thought that rinks are financially viable in centres with large population centres or catchment area.

In retailing terms Nelson is a sub-prime centre with gross over-supply of retailing space. Contrary to earlier assertions by Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, the financial squeeze on households shows no sign of easing any day soon, in fact quite the reverse. The price of oil is moving north and the exchange rate of the Pound against the Dollar is headed south. This is a truly ghastly combination and if it continues for any length of time we may well see some pretty hefty rises in the price of petrol at the pumps. What will happen to discretionary consumer spending then?

A great deal has been done to improve the physical layout of the centre and the street-scene beyond measure but this doesn’t alter the retailing fundamentals one iota.
Sim1846 says: ‘ Hmm, as for the shopping Center, your not going to get any new retail shops opening up in there until the business owners reinvent its use, as a multi use Center, most shopping centers around the world have Swimming pools, Ten Pin bowling, Cinemas, Ice Rinks, etc.’ I hope that you will forgive me if I am wrong but as best I can tell Pendle Council has been following a multi-use strategy for the centre of Nelson for quite some time with Pendle Wavelengths and Inside Spa and the ACE Centre, which I believe includes a cinema facility. I am not sure how private business owners could do the same without risk of bankruptcy. The ‘cinema’ and ‘Ten Pin Bowling’ town for the Burnley-Nelson-Colne axis is Burnley and I have to say in all honesty that I doubt very much that establishing competing facilities 3 miles further east in Nelson would last very long, notwithstanding the technological changes that are on the horizon in terms of viewing films through streaming etc. I do not know where the nearest ice rink facility is located, but this is largely a minority interest and I would have thought that rinks are financially viable in centres with large population centres or catchment area. In retailing terms Nelson is a sub-prime centre with gross over-supply of retailing space. Contrary to earlier assertions by Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, the financial squeeze on households shows no sign of easing any day soon, in fact quite the reverse. The price of oil is moving north and the exchange rate of the Pound against the Dollar is headed south. This is a truly ghastly combination and if it continues for any length of time we may well see some pretty hefty rises in the price of petrol at the pumps. What will happen to discretionary consumer spending then? A great deal has been done to improve the physical layout of the centre and the street-scene beyond measure but this doesn’t alter the retailing fundamentals one iota. Kevin, Colne

8:54pm Tue 29 Jan 13

MJA says...

I wish people would stop pandering to this daft woman. She's only interested in her own publicity; as someone else had said - she would have got a better impression if she'd pitched up without notice or fanfare.
I wish people would stop pandering to this daft woman. She's only interested in her own publicity; as someone else had said - she would have got a better impression if she'd pitched up without notice or fanfare. MJA

10:41am Sat 9 Feb 13

sim1846 says...

ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123 wrote:
my God hear we go again about the abortive fuitile attempts to get the line to Skipton open,this town has died within the last 15 years nothing to do with the line closure,save your money the line wont be opening as it will never never NEVER be financially viable,,
Your wrong their Robert, studies have already been conducted and if you read them, they clearly state that the rail project stack up, and more so as a inter regional rail link, not just as a Skipton to Colne stopping train , and Nelson did die due to the railway being cut off, and the line from Burnley being single tracked, you really don't understand the economics of anything, or if you had lived in the area all you life you would have seen how many people came to pendle by train, I for one so it, and know full well that Nelson was a very busy rail station when it had double track, with trains every 30 min, here are the states, which you wont understand anyway.
Connections

Another problem with getting around is connection times and this is particularly difficult where services are hourly or less. As an example, until we get a modern railway with the reopening of the Burnley–Colne–Sk

ipton missing rail link, the East Lancashire stations of Colne, Nelson, Brierfield, Burnley Central and Burnley Barracks have awful connections.

(i)to travel east to Leeds and Bradford, you have to travel west to Accrington. As your train approaches Accrington station you see the Leeds train pulling out and you have to wait 58 minutes for the next train. Coming back, slightly better, you have 53 minutes to wait;

(ii)to travel south to Manchester, there is a 30 minute wait at Blackburn going but what is especially galling is coming back your train from Manchester is held at the points outside Blackburn and you see the Colne train trundle across. When you get into Blackburn station the Colne train has just set off. Journey time home from Manchester (just 30 miles away) 2½ hours for a journey that in the 1960’s took just 1 hour;

(iii)to travel south to London, a 58 minute wait at Preston for the connection;

(iv)to travel north to Glasgow a 41 minute to 53 minute wait at Preston for the connection; and

(v)to travel north to Edinburgh, a 58 minute wait at Preston for the connection.

Progress, East Lancashire style, then and now:

In 1950 best journey time Colne to Liverpool was 1¾ hours, now it’s 2¾ hours to go 58 miles, an hour longer.

In 1950 best journey time Colne to Manchester was 1¼ hours, now it’s 2 hours to go 32 miles, 45 minutes longer (and 2½ hours back).

In 1950 best journey time Colne to Leeds was 1¼ hours, now it’s 2¾ hours to go just 32 miles; 1½ hours longer.

It almost feels like someone “up there” doesn’t like those of us who use the Colne branch. Surely they’re not trying to run it down so that they could close it?

My question for the committee in this regard is, how can a member of the rail travelling public have any influence on timetabling? Who do we contact about it? A simple 2 minute alteration in the timetable would solve many of these problems outlined above and I’m sure this will also be the case around the country.

August 2012

That's why Nelson is dead and will stay that way, Get it.
[quote][p][bold]ROBERTSLUMDWELLER123[/bold] wrote: my God hear we go again about the abortive fuitile attempts to get the line to Skipton open,this town has died within the last 15 years nothing to do with the line closure,save your money the line wont be opening as it will never never NEVER be financially viable,,[/p][/quote]Your wrong their Robert, studies have already been conducted and if you read them, they clearly state that the rail project stack up, and more so as a inter regional rail link, not just as a Skipton to Colne stopping train , and Nelson did die due to the railway being cut off, and the line from Burnley being single tracked, you really don't understand the economics of anything, or if you had lived in the area all you life you would have seen how many people came to pendle by train, I for one so it, and know full well that Nelson was a very busy rail station when it had double track, with trains every 30 min, here are the states, which you wont understand anyway. Connections Another problem with getting around is connection times and this is particularly difficult where services are hourly or less. As an example, until we get a modern railway with the reopening of the Burnley–Colne–Sk ipton missing rail link, the East Lancashire stations of Colne, Nelson, Brierfield, Burnley Central and Burnley Barracks have awful connections. (i)to travel east to Leeds and Bradford, you have to travel west to Accrington. As your train approaches Accrington station you see the Leeds train pulling out and you have to wait 58 minutes for the next train. Coming back, slightly better, you have 53 minutes to wait; (ii)to travel south to Manchester, there is a 30 minute wait at Blackburn going but what is especially galling is coming back your train from Manchester is held at the points outside Blackburn and you see the Colne train trundle across. When you get into Blackburn station the Colne train has just set off. Journey time home from Manchester (just 30 miles away) 2½ hours for a journey that in the 1960’s took just 1 hour; (iii)to travel south to London, a 58 minute wait at Preston for the connection; (iv)to travel north to Glasgow a 41 minute to 53 minute wait at Preston for the connection; and (v)to travel north to Edinburgh, a 58 minute wait at Preston for the connection. Progress, East Lancashire style, then and now: In 1950 best journey time Colne to Liverpool was 1¾ hours, now it’s 2¾ hours to go 58 miles, an hour longer. In 1950 best journey time Colne to Manchester was 1¼ hours, now it’s 2 hours to go 32 miles, 45 minutes longer (and 2½ hours back). In 1950 best journey time Colne to Leeds was 1¼ hours, now it’s 2¾ hours to go just 32 miles; 1½ hours longer. It almost feels like someone “up there” doesn’t like those of us who use the Colne branch. Surely they’re not trying to run it down so that they could close it? My question for the committee in this regard is, how can a member of the rail travelling public have any influence on timetabling? Who do we contact about it? A simple 2 minute alteration in the timetable would solve many of these problems outlined above and I’m sure this will also be the case around the country. August 2012 That's why Nelson is dead and will stay that way, Get it. sim1846

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