Most of the older towns have smaller shops started out where the bottom ground floor was the shop front with owners accommodation at the back and above on the first floor. Rather than create a boozy town centres and all the antisocial behaviour that goes with it and the increased level of Policing and the resultant Emergency Department influx in the early hours of the morning.
We need housing, so convert the shops back into homes. We also have had several modern office blocks converted into apartments. (usual asbestos removal issues) bring life back into the town centres by making them into houses. Failing renovation or conversion, just knock the shops down that are in excess of current footfall and build more houses there. Try to Cnut the wave of change to shopping centres, is not the answer neither is creating more drinking establishments,
Local planners allowed far more recreational late night establishments to be developed in Lytham in response to vacant shops and it has had a very detrimental impact on the town centre with increased crime and drugs, antisocial behaviour as out of towners catch the train to Lytham and cause major issues for residents. For the first time ever we had a stabbing in the town on NY eve, quite shocking for a town which is considered one of the most affluent and desirable residential retirement places to live in the NW.
They already have Blackpool just up the road for late night drinking and clubbing with its resultant police and NHS emergency dept, issues, why create even more havoc.
Last edited by JohnHarris; 03/01/25 08:47 AM.
