Is city's trendy quarter starting to lose its shine?
Shopkeepers in Hockley are calling for more help from Nottingham City Council to attract shoppers to the area after one of its most renowned boutiques announced it was to close. Bryan Henesey reports...
WHEN Caroline Jackson opened women's boutique Pink and Lilly in Hockley in 2006, it quickly became a popular store for women looking for something unique to wear.
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Caroline Jackson of Pink and Lilly says trade has fallen since the council re-routed traffic in the area.
But six years on and the award-winning shop, in Stoney Street, is preparing to close for good.
Mrs Jackson, of Mapperley Park, made the decision before Christmas after a poor year of trade, which she claims hadn't been made any easier by Nottingham City Council.
She said car parking charges on Sundays had affected her business, as well as restrictions on A-board advertising in the street.
Mrs Jackson said: "I was hoping for some sort of miracle to occur over Christmas but it never happened.
"I really believe that since the council re-routed the traffic, I have had a massive downturn in trade. It's really difficult to get into Hockley now."
Three members of staff will lose their jobs when Pink and Lilly closes on January 27.
Mrs Jackson, a fashion lecturer at New College Nottingham, said she may consider opening a new store outside of Nottingham, adding: "All this has left a bitter taste in the mouth."
The city council says it has tried numerous ways to boost trade in Hockley in recent years.
It has included pedestrianisation schemes, improved pedestrian links to Sneinton and St Ann's, providing access for buses through the centre of Hockley, and making sure that streets are kept clean.
Verity Mason opened vintage clothes shop A Vintage Obsession, in Goose Gate, Hockley, last April.
She said: "We do not expect parking charges to change now, but things like safety and cleanliness of the streets could be improved.
"We're not asking for them to spend millions on the area. If they get the basic things right it would it much better."
Robin Pounder has run vintage clothing store Wild, in Broad Street, for the last 29 years.
He said: "We've always been based in the same shop in Hockley and there has always been a problem in getting people to shop down here.
"Any sort of physical barrier – like the hill to Hockley from Clumber Street – is going to stop people.
"There's also nothing beyond Hockley for shoppers."
George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Notts Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance Hockley plays in the city's economy. He said: "While it remains essential to ensure that the city's main retail locations and shopping centres can compete , it is also important to ensure that the businesses located in the areas on the fringes of the city centre also receive an appropriate level of support to ensure that they remain viable."
City council leader Councillor Jon Collins said the authority was doing all it could "to help attract people into Hockley".
He said: "As a city council, we appreciate how difficult trading conditions are at the moment for all businesses, both well-known high street retailers and small independent businesses, in all parts of the country.
"We have worked with Hockley traders over many years to try to make a difference and bring improvements to the area."
Mr Collins said he did not believe that the on-street parking charges or traffic changes had had a detrimental effect.
19 Comments
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by iViking
Friday, January 27 2012, 10:40AM
“I think all Nottingham's independent shop keepers feel the same way (not just those in Hockley) and I think it's tragic that it hasn't worked out for Caroline in this location. The statement by Mr Collins is laughable and condescending. The council have a difficult balancing act but to come out with something like that shows he is out of touch.
I think there will be more casualties and only hope the clear retail talent shown by her will surface somewhere else.”
by BethanyW
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 8:11PM
“It would be interesting to know on what basis Cllr Collins asserts that increases in on-street parking charges have not had a detrimental effect. Given that people have a fixed amount of disposable income it seems obvious that if the cost of say, parking increases then there will be less money available to buy other things. Seems obvious and is actually a little worrying that our well paid council leader does not seem to understand basic economics.”
by Doraymee
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 2:48PM
“JoCo said 'he did not believe that the on-street parking charges or traffic changes had had a detrimental effect'. He should change his faith then!
It just goes to show that what he and his minions say, and spend money on putting in place, DOES NOT work.
How long has Labour been in power.....AND getting so many things wrong, (inc Child poverty it would seem!)
Is it not true that the chasm between those WHO GENERATE THE PROFIT, continually battle against those who SPEND the revenue produced by business. When the 'councillors' get things wrong, they go and spend even more.
Will it ever end? Will JoCo and his lot ever be defeated?”
by andyshort761
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 2:43PM
“This is great news, another business in the city failing because of shoppers being driven out by wonderful anti-car policies. Let's hope many more go down the pan soon ! When the city is a ghost town and all business and jobs have been driven out of the city perhaps the electorate will wake up to fact that the current administration are only driven by revenue generation and not serving the needs of the communities that they were elected to represent. By then i'm guessing it will be all to late !!”
by harrystotle1
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 1:46PM
“""Came into Nottingham last Thursday , have to say i was embarrassed my city looked like a dump .The ridiculous stalls and fair rides in the market square , which have no relevance to Christmas and should of been removed before Christmas Eve !
The whole City centre is filthy , looks more and more run down . "
I was aghast when the "sheds" selling tat were dismantled and just left on the floor over the New Year period. The square looked like a shanty town but I don't suppose Jane Todd ever ventures into the City.
"Proud and ambitious" my bottom.”
by _Zeus_
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 1:14PM
“Yes Matt
And it is the fastest declining city in the country.
I wonder if the two are related somehow?”
by bubdy1
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 1:14PM
“I agree the christmas wonderland should have gone xmas eve. Looks as though the city is desperate keeping it going, unless there going to change the Christmas to Valentines and then Easter Wonderland. !!!”
by mattgaltress
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 1:09PM
“People who talk about parking forget that Nottingham has been named as the least car-dependent city in the country.”
by sime64
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 1:01PM
“Don't worry folks the next phase of the tram is on the way and once completed we are all going to be living in Utopia with employment for all with every street in Nottingham being a shopping mecca for the millions it will bring!...All hail Collins, Chapman and Urqhart, we mere cash cows are not worthy of their vision and brilliance!”
by meeki1
Tuesday, January 10 2012, 12:58PM
“Jon & Jane's business rates are crippling the city. Someone has to finance Labour's follies, directors and their executive committee.”