Don't be alarmed that this post is not in the normal jovial tone that the Armley Tourist Board fosters. This may be a bit serious in it's mission but we want YOU, yes YOU the people of Armley to use this site a bit more.
In the current absence of a community forum like the great Cops and Robbers site we are hopping that you will contact us to being given admin rights to post away about the matters closest to your Armley HEARTS
What would you get on a soapbox about in Armley. Use this blog to GET ON IT and let us know- have your own LOG IN and publish your thoughts PLEASE. We all need to Act, and more people will come to the fore to create momentum if we realise that our passions are not just isolated whinges and gripes. AM I ALONE HERE?
My own personal soapbox is about the attempt to stop Todds being butchered as a bookies.
All joking aside, this has nothing to do with my moral stance and everything to do with how Armley and it's people have a community shopping centre that is diverse, creates employment, economic growth and meets the needs of a socially and economically deprived community.
Perhaps I am wrong but I think we should all have a say about how Armley Town Street develops?
The planners summarise that the application to change the shop from a prime retail outlet to a dubious 'service' does not 'impact significantly upon the viability and vitality of Armley Town Street to warrant refusal' (page 148)
So what does this mean with regards viability and vitality? The applicants state that there will be no further employment created by this change of location. They must anticipate an increased spend in their shop to warrant investing the money in buying the premises. So will we see the dividends locally? Most unlikely, as Betfred is a national chain of bookmakers with a head office elsewhere. Who will spend more time in the betting office? The young and old of Armley, those who used to use the butchers? HARDLY, it will just provide a bigger space for a small minority of our community.
What about businesses thinking of investing in Armley, what would you think coming along the road, seeing empty shops, charity shops, bookies, cash converters, etc. Granted we still have some thriving independent shops which are fab, we want to have more of them. Allowing this to happen sends a pessimistic signal that ARMLEY TOWN STREET has no future strategy. Not one which links to regeneration anyway, as this application would be thrown out if there was. Given a choice between setting up in a high street where there are signs of growth or one where more shops shut on a daily basis, where would a sensible business person place their future livlihood?
Given that the viability and vitality of Armley Town Street is possibly at it's most desperate in many years with so many empty shops etc how can it's impact be worse than we already have?
The reactive thinking could be that 'Surely something is better than nothing in that space'?
Well unless we have an alternative to go there perhaps we should count our blessings then! Thank goodness we can have a bookies, which will never leave that space, demand in deprived areas will never abate for bookies will it?
Or perhaps we can think about ways in which we can mobilise ourselves to help the viability and vitality of Armley? How about providing incentives for entrepreneurial retailers to use currently under occupied units? Or whilst they are empty and sad offering the space for artists to animate them, create a feel good factor and draw people from outside.
If there was a real viable alternative to Done/Betfred's buying our once busy high street butchers then perhaps we could ask the owners to grant a stay of execution and not close the deal. Do YOU know anyone who might wish to have a business in that premise?
If you can get along to the planning meeting and show your support please do. Forward this to anyone who gives a shit. But this is not the end of this, if you do care about Armley's future why not share your sentiments and wear your heart on your sleeve, let's collaborate a bit more!
Off the soap box, over to you. If I dont hear from anyone, I will go back to flippant Lady Mayoress and rest the hectoring!
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I have the following PDF's available for anyone interested
Armley Town Centre Action Plan 2004
Research on the Social Impact of Gambling
High Street Britain 2015
4 comments:
I've got a rant about Armley. Considering how much Council Tax I pay I have never, ever lived in an area where the simple task of street cleaning never seems to happen.
Even in Fenham in Newcastle which is one of the roughest areas I have ever had the pleasure to reside - the streets were regularly cleaned.
Come on Leeds City Council, it's only a small, simple task, but rubbish free streets make a real difference to an area - or is cleaning the streets beneath the people of Yorkshire?
Does any one feel the same as me abouthow Armley has been let down badly by our local Councillors and MP by not getting improvements and things done it seems that the only time they are seen or heard is when an election is coming up, Armley has suffered badly and been neglected, for over 10 years now
Best of luck today with the panel meet - be sure to let us know what happens as soon as you do know!
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