So how is everyone enjoying Tonbridge's temporary one way system? I personally have got quite used to it. It's a lot more quite, that's for sure, and it feels less polluted, although I have no proof for that other than not choking so much as I walk along the High Street. Unfortunately what goes with that is that trade in my shop is massively down, which could be the weather, the recession or several other factors but generally when it's this obviously, sudden and dramatic then it's something out of the ordinary and the road works causing the one way system are the only thing I can think of. The only period that I can compare it to was when I had scaffolding outside Mr. Books for about six weeks and suffered a similar fall off in trade. The perception of shoppers seems to be that the town centre is a place to be mostly avoided at the moment if they can help it. So shoppers are maybe waiting for normal road conditions to be restored before shopping in Tonbridge again and, most probably, that means that they are spending their hard earned pounds elsewhere by going to The North Farm, Tunbridge Wells, London or Bluewater.
So to those people who are campaigning for Tonbridge High Street to be pedestrianized Tonbridge Blog says "Hm, not sure."
7 comments:
One reason for the lack of footfall in the north of the High Street is down to the lack of any bus stops for passengers from the Shipbourne, London and Hadlow road areas. There is a stop on Bordyke, but not for Hadlow Road passengers. There is a stop on Avenue Du Puy and the next at the Railway Station. Too far for many to walk.
Castle??
Yes, the Castle stop can be used one way only, passengers arriving at the Castle and wishing to return south have to then walk back to the railway station or cross the Angels car parks to Avenue Du Puy, thus not venturing to your part of the High Street. Lesser abled bodied people will just go to Tunbridge Wells with their bus passes.
Trade must be thriving again this mourning - unless of course the Drytec pong is keeping people away from Tonbridge.
I have to say I actually quite liked the High Street when it was one way during the Little Bridge waterproofing. It was far easier to cross the road (you didn't actually have to use a pedestrian crossing) and having only 50% of the traffic made the High Street more peaceful and less manic. I am surprised it had an impact on trade as I am sure many others will feel as I do that it far was nicer.
Yes but now you see there Colin Hill. You've hit the nail on the head without realising it. Why was it so easy to cross the road? Because no bugger was bothering to come out shopping. Or at least far fewer people were. Quiet is great for Sunday walks but shops need shoppers and busy is good. That's essentially the dilemma I was getting at in this post....
I prefer busy but only with pedestrians and not with cars.
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