Crisis Stornoway Regeneration Meeting – Monday 29th April
Shoppers are being driven out of the town centre of Stornoway – not least by the lack of morning newspapers. All the central newspaper outlets report trade is down by at least 15% and the town centre is said to take on the atmosphere of “a ghost town” at times. Sadly, several businesses may fail soon.
Suspicion is mounting, despite the council and the airline’s strident denials, that newspaper flights were quickly axed by carrier Loganair in a tit-for-tat reaction to the comhairle’s recklessness in halting funding for some inter-island flights. Who can blame the airline? There was no proper consultation. It just wasn’t thought through by people who are well paid to think things through. The councillors failed to implement those savings that could be safely done without a lethal knock-on effect. Apparently, they had warnings on this one, but we are not allowed to know the detail.
Now the regeneration group which is supposed to boost the town is inviting traders and others to a meeting to discuss the black future of a teetering town. The crisis meeting – which, of course, will be officially denied as being anything of the kind – will be held in the Caladh Inn on Monday 29 April at 7.30pm. Someone has run out of ideas, a source says.
Councillor Angus McCormack, chairman of the group, announced: “We have sent invites to various businesses and other parties in the town centre. However, the meeting is open to anybody with an interest in how to develop the future of Stornoway.
“We will introduce people to the work of the regeneration group but will also have a presentation from the Oban Business Improvement District and from Jane MacIver, chief executive of the Stornoway Port Authority.” Oban, of course, has many fine attractions to draw people into the town – including morning newspapers and a customer-friendly parking policy.
Cllr McCormack’s proclamation was that the vision of the Stornoway Regeneration Group was “to enhance the viability and vibrancy of Stornoway town centre”. It then blabbed on with a string of meaningless jargon-ridden phrases about “long-term outcomes to include an economically active and vibrant town centre” and “a unique and identifiably Hebridean sense of place”. Oh my God, what nonsense. It’s the same impenetrable, arrogant and self-serving bilge they were coming out with 10 years ago There was, of course, not one word about the how crazy policies over the last decade had actually made sure their promised Nirvana will never actually come to pass.
Tragically, as the councillor was trumpeting the Monday meeting, he seemed to have no space for an explanation of what was being done by anyone to restore morning newspapers to draw actual real live human beings back into our wretched, dying ghost town.
Of course Councillor McCormack’s failure to acknowledge the absence of newspapers as an important factor had nothing to do with the fact the council leader runs various shops that sell newspapers until late at night – well after the town centre shops have shut after selling papers for a mere two or three hours. Nothing at all to do with that. Just wanted to make that clear.
He also failed to mention that he and his colleagues are now utterly mad and have imposed a catastrophic new, aggressive car-parking strategy on Stornoway. The traffic warden is now forced to divert from the highway to patrol a council car park and issue draconian fines to those poor unwanted shoppers who dare to stay past their allotted time in Perceval Square. After 10 years pondering what to do, is this really Mr McCormack’s brilliant plan to make a shabby, crisis-hit town visitor-friendly? Yep, this is the crazy world these guys live in. We haven’t heard one of them speak out against this dreadful and unwarranted misuse of police resources, that’s for sure.
Yet another poorly-thought out move by comhairle bean-counters and brain-dead councillors that, traders tell me, is helping kill off business in Stornoway. Being hounded out of the car park by a traffic warden – even though she is a very nice person – is already making sure most drivers avoid the centre even more than before. They just go home to the internet. You know what – I’m beginning to suspect that may be what certain dodgy people secretly really want.
We’re all in it together, maybe. But some of them are in it for themselves. There is nothing surer. Well done to all of us who voted these guys back in.
Suspicion is also mounting someone may have a grudge. Traffic Warden in Stornoway actually doing their job.
Iain, the problem lies with the fact that too many senior Councillors are ex-civil servants who have never had to worry about finding the money to pay staff or meet bills.
Whether papers are sold by A or B is not the issue, it is why the changes are coming in without consultation, discussion or any serious opposition.
The town and the island are dying the death if a thousand cuts and each one is being accepted.
Edinburgh stornoway flights existed when Loganair didn’t have the inter island flights – suspicions are just that – suspicions. More than 10 years since Loganair flew the Uist route. Highland airways had it – and Loganair didn’t even bother competing for the route.
Well said Iain X. The Comhairle seems to be on a mission to depopulate the islands. Regeneration my ass!
thank you for making it abundantly clear that the man claiming to be a leader,of our council,will be selling newspapers well into the night,although not personally because presumably he is a very important person.Its a step forwards if you are looking backwards
Any chance of bringing next years Vote forward and removing this costly band of Nationalist “Brothers”.
ian x you were told last week by the shopkeepers that the first hour of parking should be free . it works elsewhere. why dont we start a campaign ??
Oh dear, Iain’s in a Red Top mood. Aux Armes! Why not walk to shops, if you live in town? Oh that would be madness. You might lose a pound or two from the waistline. The town has seen ‘dead’ moments previously. Newspaper deliveries were never known to be disrupted, were they? With a clear gap between revenue and spending, it seems the council had to do something: the subsidy to Loganair was one option. The fights could continue and price be paid by customer. Or, again madness, we could hop on a bus and use the ferry to move between islands. Instead of free parking in the town, which only encourages congestion, how about a free transit bus running in a loop and hitting the hospital as well. Hey, power it with hydrogen cells. But then how would the non-polluting coach navigate all the kids running their motors in circles again and again [obviously some disposable income there, eh? bet they don't read newspapers though] around Stornoway?
Quote: ‘Suspicion is mounting, despite the council and the airline’s strident denials, that newspaper flights were quickly axed by carrier Loganair in a tit-for-tat reaction to the comhairle’s recklessness in halting funding for some inter-island flights’
Are you suggesting that the people who run Loganair are so petty that they would give up a profitable contract to carry newspapers to Lewis because they lost a contract with someone else?
If that is the case I am totally gobsmacked that they have remained in business for the decades they have been operating.
On the other hand it could possibly be that the current contract was not economically viable for the airline and the proposed increased costs were too much for the newspaper industry to absorb.
Stornoway town centre has been dying for years due to a variety of circumstances. Out of town supermarkets, improved ferry links enabling people to travel to the mainland to shop, internet shopping and recently the demise of woolies.
During all these changes few of the local retailers have made any effort to try and tempt people to visit the town. For example if I want to buy a shirt in Stornoway (14.5 collar), I can get a white one and thats it. Every summer I have to spend some of my holiday tramping round stores on the mainland for my supply of shirts for the next year and at the same time I buy all my other clothes. I would much rather be able to go to Cromwell Street on a Saturday and pick things up as and when I need them.
I also remember when outlets such as Engies did not sell papers (Campbells didn’t exist at this time). A journalist with a major Scottish paper who had local connections came to the island on holiday. When he asked in Engies why they did not sell the paper he worked for he was told that the wholesalers refused to supply them with any papers. The wholesaler was then, as now, Nicolsons.
As a result of this intervention by the journalist all out of town outlets were then supplied with papers. In other words Nicolsons were running a cartel where they would only supply who they felt would not be a major threat to them and Smiths.
Perhaps the town centre outlets should change their hours. They seemed quite happy to do so in the past when they would close their doors at 1pm on a bank holiday and send any surplus papers to Engies and Campbells to see if they would get rid of them for them
ghillie — i know its early but put your thinking cap on. it has nothing to do with loganair being petty. it is just busines sense. without all the inter island flights , it is just not worth it for them . they could sustain it without much profit because of the other profitable inter island flights . they told the council months ago you support us and we wuill support you . the rest ids history .
Why not try and work together to find a solution to the problem instead of all blaming other people!
for a town center that is on its knees……the business rates are higher than some towns on the mainland! no wonder there are for sale signs on every corner in town and a handfull of closed shops….
Aha the council has been very quiet about the loss of the daily papers . i did wonder why . every shop says it is affecting them but its head in the sand time .
We should welcome initiatives to grow the town and very pleased to see that the port authority is part of that effort. We need all agencies in the islands to co-operate and pool resources. We know that our elected national politicians are not interested – for them year zero begins on September the 19th 2014 – the poor delusional souls. The real tragedy is not their delusion – but that their focus is not on these islands – but on their doomed to fail separatists agenda
@Norman. Early or not you should put your reading glasses on. I said if the reason behind the decision was, as the original blog suggested “tit for tat”, then that would be petty. However I did go on to suggest that it was a commercial decision, just like you say state.
I rather suspect that the lack of papers will lead to some further permanent changes in shopping – in the Stornoway area at least. A good few people who were in the habit of buying a daily or weekend newspaper (and some other things besides) will move to internet news which is free if you already have an internet connection. I doubt they’ll go back.
Have already given up on the Stornoway Gazette due to the shockingly poor journalism and lack of local news. Tried to get Saturday papers last weekend and none of them had the supplements! It’ll be websites all the way for me.
Perhaps some local retailers need to realise that customer service goes a long way in encouraging customers to come back and spend with them again. Some local shops have this down to a fine art, others make you feel like you’re an inconvenience and how dare you disrupt their conversation etc.
What crises in STY and UK??? Landfill can’t cope with the food, goods & cars we are throwing out. The last generation(s) must be sick in their graves reading and hearing our pathetic bleating. Ridiculous.
A lot of Stornoway businesses don’t help themselves! For example – you go into the town for the switching on of the Christmas lights, the majority of shops are closed as are the majority of places to get a snack (thank goodness for burger bars etc) It’s the same for the Heb Celt Festival, the island is heaving with visitors but all the shops still close at their usual times. I know these are isolated examples but what about beautiful spring and summer evenings? The Woodland Centre bangs it’s doors at the allotted time regardless of who’s about. Chip shops close by about 9pm – on a Friday and Saturday night!!!!! What’s that all about?
Businesses grumble when the continental market lines the streets or the fairground rides are in the town – jealousy maybe? They forget that these sort of things, although taking money out of the island economy are also drawing bodies into the town, bodies who might just spend a bit of cash in their shops (if they’re open of course!)
That said, I tend to agree with the above post about bleating!
Stop whingeing and diversify!
PS. The traffic warden causes more chos than she solves!
Oops – *chaos
Very interesting. I will be going to tonight’s meeting to hear what is said before I make any judgments of the people involved. I’m old fashioned like that.
@Tina
You obviously dont run a business or have no clue how to run one……
When the Continental fair comes up they take away from the local business’s ….they dont pay any rates or tax to the local economy..they leave a massive mess which OUR bin men have to clean up….insted they compete with people who are operating a business all year round and have overheads and expenses to cover…..during the busiest two weeks of the year!!!.You will also note that the Continental market also closes its flap’s around 5pm…….
Also regarding the chippie……the HEB festvial now has food in their own tents …so there is no point in staying open when there is no customers about…..
if the CNES want to help local business then they can do something to lower the rates…..as we are paying rates at a higher rate than most towns on the mainland…….
Regarding the Continental market I don’t believe they “take away” from local business since most local businesses don’t actually sell the stuff the market does. What they do do is draw people into the town, and people who are in the town are more likely to spend money on other things whilst they’re there!
The Heb Celt festival may have it’s own food supply, but what about the other 51 weeks of the year when the festival isn’t on? The chippies in most towns are open at least until 11pm.
Why doesn’t the woodland centre stay open longer in the summer?
What it boils down to is a lot of local businesses want the mainland perks like cheaper business rates but also want to carry on doing business the way they have always done, 9-5 monday to saturday, and as lilttle customer service as they can get away with!
Time for a bit of innovation!
Tina suggests “innovation” will be the saving of Stornoway town centre, please share your expertise as the past 10 years I have seen businesses with seeming good ideas come and sadly go. I agree I would love to go for a coffee in evening @ The Woodlands Centre, has anyone asked why do they not open later, particularly in the summer months. I seem to remember the shops or alot of them remaining open late to accommodate the turning on of the Christmas lights, however I think it is the way of alot of things here little or no support so the business owners no longer feel it’s feasible to keep staff on, electricity etc. I agree with Stevo about the mess the market leaves as I live in the centre of town and see it out my windows. Again has anyone asked the local chippies why they don’t stay open later, even on Friday or Saturday nights? There may be a valid reason. You mention usual business hours 9-5 how long does one stay open just in case…..and lastly there are shops and businesses that do go the extra for their customers so I think your blanket comment on the lack of customer service is a little unfair for those who do care.
Reality says that town centre businesses have to change strategy to survive. They have to contend with increased supply costs compared to mainland retailers along with the same competition from online shopping. I know I tend to shop more online now compared to a few years ago and also have a big list of shopping to do whenever I go to the mainland. There are lots of factors – one is the inconvenience of parking charges (it’s not even the amount as it doesn’t cost that much – it’s the need to find change, go to the machine, remember when your parking’s up, being on a time constraint – I’d sooner not bother), another is the selection of goods on offer, a third reason is that a lot of the shops are just a bit dismal and not a pleasurable shopping experience.
Shopkeepers need to connect with their modern market – supply the things an island resident needs/ wants on an everyday basis or cater to the tourist trade with a quality range of local products and cosmopolitan opening hours, or both. It would be lovely to wander round pleasant shops on a summer evening and stop in a nice cafe for coffee/ tea, nicer still to have some shops that cater fully to the outdoor pursuits we could base our tourist trade and lifestyle on. And it’s time the councillors invested in a real effort to tart up the town centre with some nice floral displays etc. The school boards are a nice addition at times but they should complement, not replace, proper decor.
One last thing, surely something could be done to alleviate the business rates burden on town centre businesses – it’s a no brainer that a thriving business is better for the local economy than an empty shop that generates no income at all in the way of rates or anything else.
@ Tina
I challenge you to run a business on this island….as you think it is so easy……with costs 25 % higher on the island’s than the mainland…..i think you will end up doing the same as the current shop owners…..SLAPPING on a ” Ferry Tax” every year also makes it harder…..
U do realise that the same bag of potatoes on the mainland thats cost £4, but is at least £8- £9 , if not more during summer times on the island….u will find the chippe has reasonable prices ,more or less mainland prices…..
As regards to the continental market….ask the local shop owners…….they endure the winter famine only to see the summer feast being grabbed by some NON rates paying “lets leave a mess ” business’s……who pays for the mess they leave behind? Yeah the local shop owners taxes do…..
As for your chippie’s idea….how about go ask Cameron’s or Chirch street Chippie as to why they HAVE to close early…..u do realise the toon is dead past 9pm???? And why on earth would any reputable business owner want to take abuse from late night drunks on a Saturday night, as this seem’s to be what u are suggesting……
Also u mention Business’s wanting Mainland Perks…..you will note, that is not the case……ALL THEY WANT IS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD……and noting that business rates are higher on the islands than some towns on the mainland….is not asking for any perks…but merely pointing out the obvious disadvantage faced by island business’s
“it’s the need to find change, go to the machine, remember when your parking’s up, being on a time constraint – I’d sooner not bother”
Oh, my goodness! How do you cope with such hardship?!?! What do you do when you go to Inverness???
Did anyone go to last nights meeting? Iain have you any feedback or were you elsewhere engaged?
Yes, unfortunately couldn’t make it.
I went. There was some very positive info about the works in the harbour, and an interesting presentation about Business Improvement Districts, or BIDs. Some very good info about the work of the Regeneration Group as well. I would encourage local businesses and residents to get involved. It’s up to us. If you’re not part of the solution, you just might find you’re part of the problem.
Inverness Tim? Well, it’s a twice a year trip with enough variety in the shops to be worth putting up with a parking machine. The rest of the time I shop online, or go even further afield. You see, if it’s worthwhile to go off the island for shopping, then once the decision is made to get on the plane or the ferry then one can shop wherever one wants. Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh………..They’ve all got shops, and parking, and cafes and variety. Stornoway town can win back that custom when the shopkeepers make people think “why go away, I can get that in Stornoway” and the council make us think “I’ll get parked no bother and there’s no faff with a machine” and the cafe owners make us think “I’ll have a wee coffee and a bit of cake when I’ve done my shopping, since I’ve no parking machine to worry about”. When all that gets joined up Tim boy I’ll think to myself “why go to Inverness, I’m better off shopping right here in Stornoway and save myself the bother of going on the ferry or the plane”.