Visitor numbers to Newbury have plummeted by 6000 as the recession and Newbury Vision projects continue to hamper local trade, a new survey has revealed.
An independent 'footfall' survey for May 2009 shows visitor numbers to the town are down 1% on the year before, although the figures are skewed by unusual flows of passing trade caused by the construction of the new cinema and Park Way projects.
For example, researchers recorded double the normal traffic outside Millets in Northbrook Street, compared to the year before - due to the opposite pavement being out of bounds while workmen divert a new sewer into Park Way. Similarly, passing trade outside Downer & Co in Cheap Street was up 26% as the pavement by the cinema is out of action. Overall, the total weekly visitor numbers are down by 6000.
Researchers counted traffic at 30 different places across town, and found that 18 had seen extra traffic, while 12 had seen a dip in visitors. While traditional 'hotspots' such as outside Marks & Spencer (down 8%) and Kitchenmonger (up 4%) are holding their own, passing trade in the Blackboys Bridge and Broadway areas remain scarce.
The survey company has also inexplicably stopped counting footfall at the Market Street entrance to the Kennet Centre, which used to regularly see 24,000 people a week pass through where Wimpy used to be, before the entrance was closed for the cinema development.
Newbury fares well with a 1% drop against a 6% drop nationally, however, West Berkshire Council has promised a 15% increase in footfall by the time Park Way is finished in 2011.
West Berkshire Council has promised a 15% increase in footfall by the time Park Way is finished in 2011.
That's alright then.
Can we name names here? Who exactly has promised this? or, to put it another way,...whose resignation can we look forward to if the increase isn't 15%?
The 15% increase should be measured against the current footfall figures, however i would guess that they will be set against the ever diminishing figures and taken from counts just prior to the 2011 opening of the new shopping centre.
Newbury fares well with a 1% drop against a 6% drop nationally, ...
That is pretty impressive - seems that Parkway and the other building projects are not having any negative effect. Or should we be comparing Newbury with local towns rather than a national average?
For example, researchers recorded double the normal traffic outside Millets in Northbrook Street, compared to the year before - due to the opposite pavement being out of bounds while workmen divert a new sewer into Park Way. Similarly, passing trade outside Downer & Co in Cheap Street was up 26% as the pavement by the cinema is out of action. Overall, the total weekly visitor numbers are down by 6000.
So half the figure for the former and by interpretation, down 25% for the latter on previous figures.
1. Those that used to be able to park in M&S now have to walk (that's a big increase in pedestrians)
2. Those that were able to drive into the town centre and park nearby where they wished to shop, now have to walk. (That's another large increase in pedestrians)
3. Those that could park in Park Way and slip through the alleyways to their local shop, yes you guessed it, now have to walk into town (hat's a further large increase in pedestrians)
This is just three examples. If all these, and more are lost, PLUS the 1% reduction in footfall, what is the TRUE figures!
I would bet it is greater than the 6% national average stated!
This is just three examples. If all these, and more are lost, PLUS the 1% reduction in footfall, what is the TRUE figures!
I would bet it is greater than the 6% national average stated!
????
People who drove in and parked in the lost car parks are mainly driving in and parking in the remaining car parks. But where they park, even how they get into town, is irrelevant - footfall measurement counts the number of people walking past particular points (same points each time), and the reported figures show that Newbury is experiencing a far lesser fall in footfall than the national average. A drop in footfall is not good, but such a low decrease indicates that Newbury is doing comparatively well - despite the disruption caused by all the building.
Of course footfall is not the greatest measure of how our local retailers are doing in the recession - turnover and profit margins are what really count.
People who drove in and parked in the lost car parks are mainly driving in and parking in the remaining car parks. But where they park, even how they get into town, is irrelevant - footfall measurement counts the number of people walking past particular points (same points each time), and the reported figures show that Newbury is experiencing a far lesser fall in footfall than the national average. A drop in footfall is not good, but such a low decrease indicates that Newbury is doing comparatively well - despite the disruption caused by all the building.
Of course footfall is not the greatest measure of how our local retailers are doing in the recession - turnover and profit margins are what really count.
I think LocalRes is trying to suggest that there are less people but with Car Park closures they are now being counted at more Footfall Checkpoints!
Apart from that it doesn't show people buying it only shows people wandering around town - possibly on their way to the job centre!
Down only 1%, in the middle of a "Credit Crunch" and against 6% nationally? That's great news.
What most people (Including WBC) don't realise is that the shoppers who parked in Park Way were never counted in previous years. They are now parking in other parts of the town and are now being counted.
A dedicated M & S shopper for instance would park at the rear of M & S complete their shopping and then go home again. They would probably not even venture into Northbrook Street and would therefore never have been counted in previous surveys.
The canal bridge which saw the highest footfall is now taking the increased pedestrian traffic from the Wharf and Kennet Centre, which are the alternative car parks being used by the shoppers who used to park in Park Way.
Ask any of the retailers (Including M & S) and they will tell you that footfall in Newbury is considerably lower than this time last year.
What most people (Including WBC) don't realise is that the shoppers who parked in Park Way were never counted in previous years. They are now parking in other parts of the town and are now being counted.
A dedicated M & S shopper for instance would park at the rear of M & S complete their shopping and then go home again. They would probably not even venture into Northbrook Street and would therefore never have been counted in previous surveys.
The canal bridge which saw the highest footfall is now taking the increased pedestrian traffic from the Wharf and Kennet Centre, which are the alternative car parks being used by the shoppers who used to park in Park Way.
Ask any of the retailers (Including M & S) and they will tell you that footfall in Newbury is considerably lower than this time last year.
Precisely my point!
We are now counting people who would otherwise not have been counted, therefore the 1% footfall is totally unrealistic in relation to the reduced number of shoppers!
A dedicated M & S shopper for instance would park at the rear of M & S complete their shopping and then go home again. They would probably not even venture into Northbrook Street and would therefore never have been counted in previous surveys.
in that case they may have well stayed at home & shopped online.
What most people (Including WBC) don't realise is that the shoppers who parked in Park Way were never counted in previous years. They are now parking in other parts of the town and are now being counted.
How do you know this, seems a bit of an assumption there, grasping at straws.
Truth is a 1% drop, in the middle of a "Credit Crunch" is great news and goes against what the few doom and gloom merchants have been saying.
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