How can we revive our High Street?

[Maria]

Sounds interesting, but I see Camden had £10,000 to get it off the ground. Not sure if in the current climate arts grants will be that plentiful.

Do many shops on the High Street lay vacant for that long?

[wangi]

[Morrison Emily]

I don't really know anything about it, but surely Edinburgh council and even property companies etc should be supportive of pop up shops/galleries and similar ventures as it keeps the area attractive, ensures that properties are maintained and money keeps flowing. Surely minimal prices for short leases, or a cut in rates etc should be allowed for such ventures, especially if they are overseen by a respectable and known group such as the community council.

[Maria]

Art in vacant shop fronts sounds attractive Emily, but I very much doubt if the CC would find the prospect of becoming shopkeepers very attractive. In fact why the need for a middle man? In Camden it is the council that operate the scheme, so why not the same here?

[Mark Cameron]

What's the best route into the appropriate people in the council? via our local councillors?

[wangi]

[Mark Cameron]

Will be interesting to see how Sarah approaches community engagement.

[SWoodford]

Hello,

Reading through the threads, there are a number of really good ideas here - and I do indeed look forward to working with the community to realise these - I'd also welcome your suggestions on how best to work with you on this. In relation to the artwork in shops theme, you may be aware that there are a number of units where we have been able to work with agents to install artwork, and we would certainly like to do this in Portobello.

I can be reached on sarah.woodford@edinburgh.gov.uk and 0131 5293527

[Mark Cameron]

Welcome to Porty Sarah.

Good luck in your new role and look forward to hearing your ideas.

[SWoodford]

Celebrate Portobello's Independent Shops on Independents' Day - 4th July 2011. Please share with your favourite shops and encourage them to download the 'Your High Street Needs You' posters, logos etc and enter the retailers competition for a chance to win a Mary Portas masterclass. More details here -
http://skillsmartretail.ctml2.com/skill ... ID=141&t=0

[Bazza]

For me, the main problem is how early all the shops shut during the week, especially the greengrocers. If that was open till seven, say, I'd probably be in most evenings. I'm glad to see the new Polish shop is open till seven

[Mark Cameron]

I'd also like to see the shops open later (perhaps they could close for an hour or two during the day). Much rather be spending in Porty than Tesco. The issue is makung the traders aware and getting the community behind them by shopping locally. Don't know if Sarah has experience of similar initiatives elsewhere?

[SWoodford]

There are a number of schemes out there, largely in relation to bigger cities. Newcastle's Alive After 5 is one that I have seen recently - it's supported by a pro-active marketing campaign which seems to be the key. Has late opening been trialled in Porty before - say at Christmas? Would businesses be interested in participating in a summer trial?

[Mark Cameron]

I'm not aware of it being trialed but sounds good to me. Does your remit mean you'll be trying to engage the local traders?

I'll ask the question on Porty Parents to get some free feedback.

[Grunk]

Sounds like a good idea,

But I'm not sure christmas would be the ideal time for a trial, as a lot of people would be drawn towards the already late night openings in the city centre for their christmas shopping, which would generally be items not available on the high street.

[SWoodford]

My remit will definitely be to work with the traders - so for any talkporty readers out there - do get in contact! I'd certainly like to explore some of these ideas with you some more. There's nothing like putting a face to a name though, and I am looking forward to meeting more business owners in person.

[Mark Cameron]

I wondered how things had been going with local traders Sarah and what ideas or initiatives are planned for Porty?

[cuth]

One way to reduce the number of empty shops on the High Street and create a better environment for all would be to demolish some of them.

Many of the shops appear to have been built to accommodate the boom years when Portobello was a popular resort. Now that the resort has gone, maybe the shops need to go to. If you take a close look at some of the shops, they were obviously just plonked onto any available space. Blockbusters is a great example. Knocking down that row of shops would open up the frontage of the historic buildings behind and create a much more pleasant space, in my opinion.

Obviously, it's not a simple as turning up and telling someone you're closing down their business and demolishing their shop, but if it were adopted as a long term plan it might help our High Street environment and reduce the number of empty shops.

[Porty]

The run off shops at the Fine Wine store are an eyesore, would be good to get shot of them.

[Epykat]

The run from Carlo's right along to the Doctor's Surgery are an eyesore as well.

[Porty]

Agreed. Trouble is; even the wee shops are worth ££££'s. The former "nests of tables" shop on the corner of Marlbourough St sold a few years back, its tiny and fetched a substantial price.

[wangi]

[Porty]

Yes.

I ought to have said there's little or no chance of shop demolition happening in that part of the high street. Blockbusters etc is an interesting one. The council could CP the properties for a lot less that it cost to repave the high street. Cuth is correct to identify the over provision of retail space in Porty even although we have lost quite a bit over the years. Red Giant, almost all of Bath Street, the prom and so on.

[rnuwithmark]

I am looking at opening up premises on the high street in 2012, have an idea that the local community might love. All hush hush for now, need to keep an eye out for premises up for rent.

Will post here when the wheels are in motion

Mark

[Porty]

[Grunk]

Is it a running shop?

[rnuwithmark]

I have two ideas, one is a running shop, theres nothing to serve the local people in porty, musselburgh, joppa, nothfield etc. If im in Porty and wany proper running shoes i have to head to the nearest place which is up Lothian Road, Bruntsfield etc. What do you think about a sports/running shop in Portobello?

[Porty]

I would love to see it work. Unfortunately my running days are over but I believe there is strong contingent of runners who are porty based.

Check your private messages.

[Grunk]

If it also sell snowboarding equipment, cheese and video games, I'm in.

[Franck]

[Epykat]

We did have a sports shop a long time ago which was brilliant - be good to have one back so good luck with that.

[Pal of Porty]

[Makaveli]

Surprised there isn't a specialist kids shoe shop in Porty. We go to Maddie and Marks in Bruntsfield for our kids shoes and we use some of the other shops when we are there.

Although as Maddie and Marks already exists there probably isn't much call for another shop the same - maybe need to convince the owners of M&M's to move their shop here!!!

[Puerto bella]

Contact M&Ms direct Makaveli for further info.

[Makaveli]