Just seen the charred remains of the old co-op on Calendar for the first time.

How sad is that ! Memories of old Barnsley from the 60s and 70s when it was a thriving town with a reason to exist.
My cousin worked in the co-op travel agency in the 70s. I used to like walking through all the various departments, it was a maze.
It is a shame that such a fine old building has to meet its demise as some sort of a night club.... not what the founders of the Barnsley Cooperative Society would have imagined.

 

Its an even bigger shame that the first option being explored is demolition. One of Barnsley's most beautiful buildings

 

For many of us in Tarn, it still is a 'reason to exit' I agree it's a shame this fine building is in real danger of being demolished. Life still goes on hey. Only The inhabitants/ shoppers can keep Tarn centre vibrant.

 

Thats not strictly true, the council have the biggest role to play in keeping the town centre vibrant. There isn't much that me and you can do about the fact that they put rates up too high and drove it the big name companies

 

It's being redeveloped as we speak. Had the recession not occurred in 2008 it probably would have all been done and dusted now.( maybe a blessing in disguise given that Debenhams was going to be a dominant feature of that) Whatever,s there it needs customers to survive. The more Independant shops the better as far as I'm concerned.

 

A debenhams store would have brought in a lot of people to the town centre like littlewoods and bhs used to in my opinion of course.

 

BHS and Littlewoods pulled out, Debenhams no doubt would've drawn people in. However, I personally don't want the Town centre focus iing around a couple of large Dept. stores. Let's hope this development is a success and if variety is the spice of life, then the smaller Independant shops could be just what Tarn needs.

 

The problem with the new development is that the units are actually quite big. Too big for small independent stores but too small for large department stores.

I've always said that the college building on church street should have been purchased (the college would jump at the chance of relocating to anither purpose built building) and turned into a mall of independent shops. The buildings design of small rooms in a square overlooking a central courtyard would be perfect for that purpose and is at the right end of town to fit really well with the Victorian buildings around, the arcade a hundred yards away and the renovated town hall and area

 

Logistics, it is a 'bit out of the way' and it's uphill from the interchange and rest of main shopping areas.

 

Smaller independent shops don,t attract people in,folk go to Wakefield and Meadowhall just cos you don,t like these big department stores.
Barnsley is crap for shopping.

 

That's why the Victorian arcade always fails as well imo

 

Of course small independent shops draw people in but there needs to be a mix of small independent and larger stores too.

Meadowhalls biggest draws are the clothes shops, Barnsley has pretty much none , and department stores, again Barnsley has none.

Ideally Barnsley would have two department stores, a large amount of independent shops and a lot of clothing stores alongside a thriving market for food. Unfortunately what it actually has is a lot of low class chain shops, primarily, sports direct, wilko, poundland and wh smiths. All of which fill up the town without actually offering anything or drawing anybody in.

 

They can do, it depends on what they sell. I'm not saying there shouldn't be larger dept stores, I just don't think town centre developments should be so reliant on them as they can just up sticks and leave a large 'hole'

 

But if you don't incorporate one or two into your design then you have forever limited your town centre. If you don't build space for them you can never have them, if you do build space for them you can always subdivide the area later if needed

 

Some new shops opened up there recently including a small real ale pub

 

Haven't the council set aside some land for this type of further development for larger retailers? Thought I 'd read that somewhere?

 

Did they used to be a santa's grotto in there at Christmas?

 

Me mam used to work in the Coop cafe across the road. Happy times and sad times.