Shops

Difficult topic in the era of ever increasing online shopping, but are there ways to pro-actively attract businesses into currently empty shops (reduce or waive rates, help with refurb etc)? Ever more nail shops, estate agents or charity shops can't be an attractive future. Can empty places be made available temporarily (say for a month or quarter) to test ideas, concepts or other? The Surbiton Farmers Market has great entrepreneurial people - might some of them be tempted into a more permanent base?

Why the contribution is important

Life and soul in our high street.

by Stefan on February 23, 2024 at 05:44PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 5.0
Based on: 14 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Peter March 15, 2024 at 15:19

    Yes, totally agree. Too many charity shops starting to creep into the high street (Victoris Road). We'll be like Twickenham soon. Council rates/rent must be getting too high making business fold/move on. Next shop to close, let's give this idea a go....

  • Posted by phillro March 15, 2024 at 18:40

    You say this is a difficult topic. Maybe, but it is central to plannng for our town. Anything we can do to keep the "high street" vibrant has a massive effect on the atmosphere.

  • Posted by PhilS March 26, 2024 at 22:59

    This is a core topic that I would imagine many people of Surbiton ponder over. Seeing the success in Kingston town centre with new shops appearing , is there not any lessons we can learn to boost the high street?

  • Posted by jdazcr April 23, 2024 at 17:28

    Just reduce the business rates full stop.
    Many small home based businesses would love to have a shop instead, but the jump from home to even paying the business costs of a shop are insane and makes it impossible to expand, even when there is market for the product/service.

  • Posted by NewtoSurbiton May 16, 2024 at 15:29

    Agree with the views expressed. Victoria Road lets Surbiton down. It has far too many empty shops, a lack of variety of shops and it looks generally untidy and unloved. We need to attract more independent shops and prioritise types that are not currently reflected. Could some, eg M&S and Boots be encouraged to expand into vacant units so they could offer a wider range of products? Rates are obviously an issue that needs to be addressed.

  • Posted by KatyBessent2 September 10, 2024 at 13:07

    To use M and CO shop that was there to use as another shop or commuity centre there so it was not left with homeless people sitting outside.

  • Posted by Johntiptop October 28, 2024 at 09:08

    I agree that Victoria Road (our High Street) needs improvement. It is the centre of our town and needs attention to make it more attractive.

    I have posted my idea about pedestrianizing it. This would bring significant benefits by making the centre much more attractive to shoppers and thereby encourage new businesses (restaurants, cafes etc) to open along the pedestrian section.

    Yes, there will be challenges to overcome eg bus routes and shop deliveries, but these can be overcome with some creative thinking.

    PS the old M&Co shop has been taken over by a gym, which I think is a good thing (rather than have an empty shop) and it should encourage more people to the area.

  • Posted by SMGOtner October 29, 2024 at 14:01

    The section of Ewell Road between the old-Langleys and the Surbitonian Grind needs some help. I assume it's the lack of parking and otherwise choking traffic that makes it challenging, but the row of empty shops boarded up is sad.

  • Posted by Nicola October 29, 2024 at 14:19

    I would say No to Victoria Road High Street pedestrianisation, here’s why…
    Speaking as someone who currently has cancer and not much energy (and by the way some of our residents are also elderly and/or have physical difficulties and mobility scooters), I would be completely against pedestrianising the high street and would definitely like to keep the bus service running along the Victoria Road High Street and beyond.

    If pollution levels and/or traffic levels are a concern, then get the buses to run on fuel that is better for people’s health and the environment. Don’t stop the buses along the high street – for some people it’s the only way that they can get about to the places they need to go.

    I don’t live in the centre of town and the thought of having to walk down what is quite a long road does not make me happy. Having moved here from the Borough of Elmbridge, I can say that the bus service in Surbiton is 100x better than Elmbridge and it is *so* nice to know that I don’t have to wait more than 5 minutes for a bus. I can’t drive and the Elmbridge buses were 1 or 2 every hour or half hour and they were usually late.

    Please don’t destroy this advantage of living in Surbiton which is the transport connections that make Surbiton great and easy to visit.

    Not everyone can drive or walk down a long or long-ish road and it will result in fewer people having access to the High Street, resulting in fewer customers.

  • Posted by Nicola October 29, 2024 at 14:50

    I agree with the idea of reducing or waiving rent or business rates to encourage local and independent shops, businesses and entrepreneurs. Some kind of discount on rent or rates might help.

    If there’s nowhere or very few places for suppliers to these businesses to park their cars or vans, that could be a problem. I think there are a couple of small car parks in the St James’s Road area which I think are not used often? Or maybe part of the Waitrose car park could be free to use?

    Maybe you could make them free to use and they could be used by suppliers or people hired by local businesses? (eg. if a local business needs a plumber or electrician to come round to visit but the plumber/electrician needs somewhere to park, or a local egg supplier needs to bring them eggs to a local food shop.)
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