Traders ready to fight back against recession
16/2/2012 (SB) A new arts and crafts shop is opening up in North Cross Street in Gosport called The Art Place on the 3rd March 2012. Pictured is: Artist Richard Oakes (32) and owner of new art shop The Art Place. Picture: Sarah Standing (120568-7424)
SHOPKEEPERS in Gosport are leading the fight against the recession.
While most high streets are facing a steady decline, new shops are springing up in the town with every passing month.
In a few weeks, Gosport artist Richard Oakes will be opening an art shop and gallery in North Cross Street.
He will join the ranks of tattooists, bakers, confectioners and a butcher as the latest addition to the town’s shopping precinct.
Traders say taking the plunge at a time of recession is worth the risk and will help boost Gosport’s visitor numbers.
Mr Oakes said: ‘Unfortunately the High Street is suffering quite a lot at the moment.
‘Opening a new shop is a risk but I think it is worth doing.
‘I’m a local artist and I do a lot of arts and crafts.
‘I got to know a lot of people who are doing some really nice and interesting things that you can’t get from major chains.
‘So I thought it would be good to have a shop for that sort of stuff and then this property came along.’
The Art Space opens on March 3 and will also be a place for people to take part in workshops ranging from drawing to guitar lessons.
Eventually Richard would like to sell tea and cakes too.
Other shops to have opened in Gosport’s High Street recently include a bakery, a butcher’s shop, a tattoo studio, a sweet shop and a reptile shop.
It comes as town leaders are preparing a bid for Gosport to become a Mary Portas pilot town, following the TV retail expert’s advice to the government on how to boost dying town centres.
As reported in The News, Gosport now has a lower than average number of empty shop units.
The deputy leader of Gosport Borough Council, Cllr Graham Burgess, said: ‘I’m all in favour of independent shops and I wish them all the success in the world.
‘It just shows quite a lot of people have the confidence that things are changing.
‘They’re not the big chains, but independent traders who are showing they have the confidence in Gosport.
‘The customers are there and they have the belief in the town.’
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Comments
There are 23 comments to this article
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Pentip
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 05:37 AMCouncilWatcher, the truth of the matter lies more with the antics YOU perform by publishing misinformation on this comment board . It is demonstrated, for example, by your criticism at comment 19 of a disbled driver and misinformation about coucillor parking all clearly made to make cheap political points that have little or no bearing on the subject of the article.. Your true agenda is obvious to everyone.
CouncilWatcher
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:10 PMI just observe the antics of the Council and all the political groupings on it. I listen to what people who work qwithin the town hall tell me. Gosport View seems incredibly well-informed about the parking permits issued to conservative councillors. Perhaps he is one himself?
Gosport View
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 04:07 PMCouncil Watcher is being disengenuous. The leader has an annual permit fully paid for, Cllr Allen has a disabled badge which if CoucnilWatcher has been examining his car, he would know about and fines for non display or overstay are awarded and paid for like anyone else. CouncilWatcher, your devious one sided political comments are obvious and don't impress.
seejay32
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 02:55 PM@19: If Cllr Mark Hook were to claim back his parking fees when working in his shop, you can be completely assured that you-know-who will be on to the Standards bods within seconds. Also, I note that the people you mentioned are all Conservative councillors, apart from one who left the LibDems, so everyone else is whistle clean are they? I wonder who CouncilWatcher really is?
CouncilWatcher
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 01:31 PMSo what's to stop Council Leader Mark Hook parking for free on the excuse that he's on Town Hall business when he's actually working in his shop next door? Also why is Councillor Roger P Allen allowed to park on the pavement for free? Why was Councillor Smith let off the parking ticket he got in the same way as Councillor Edgar before him? Seems like it is one law for our civic leaders and another for all the rest of us.
seejay32
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:16 AMliverpoolboy @16: Councillors pay the same as anyone else for parking, but if on council business can claim it back. They also get to park in a nice handy car park, when everyone else has to cross the dual carriageway, (except weekends, of course). As I understand it, council staff can buy reduced price permits. I also understood that business people in the High Street area could have reduced price permits for their staff, or maybe some of them. GosportTrader should be able to put us right on that.
Pentip
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 11:51 PMCouncillors pay the same for parking as does everyone else. As for costs an annual permit in Gosport is £400 or £7.69 week, in Southampton its between £2,000 and £2,700, the latter £52 per week. .
liverpoolboy
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:56 PMPen tip answer his question about his staff having to full whack,for parking whilst,councillors and council staff don't!!
Pentip
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 07:05 PMFrank Scott at 12. Unlike yourself we were having a civilised debate.
taggy67
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 03:55 PMWhat does report unsuitable mean please
taggy67
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 03:54 PMI wish you lots of luck with your Art Shop but I agree not the best choice of colours might put people off. I would reconsider it if I were you seems a shame but thats Football for you but all the very best
FrankScot
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 11:21 PMPentip you are a fool. As a councillor that represents the people of Gosport, why draw GosportTrader into an argument after welcoming his positive comments and belittle yourself. Grow up.
GosportTrader
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 01:43 AMPentip forgets to mention that my shop staff have to pay to park in the long stay car parks, not the 20p short stay. Shop workers don't earn high wages and having to pay £20 or more a week for parking is a big slice of their wages. I know the Council have no control over business rates or rents but you do have control over car park charges, the market and the lack of investment in the High Street compared to our neighbours in Fareham, Portsmouth and Havant.
Pentip
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11:16 PMGood to see GosportTrader making some positive comments for a change - despite his inability not to take a swipe at the council in passing. Does he have some practical ideas I wonder,accepting the majority view that the 20p charge for an hours parking, two hours for 50p charge, encourages shopper turnover in the short stay car parks and not the reverse, and the council has no control over business rates or rents?
GosportTrader
Friday, February 17, 2012 at 09:57 PM"Unfortunately the High Street is suffering quite a lot at the moment" said Richard and he is spot on as we fight the effects of the recession, the car park charges, the disappearing market and increased competition from Tesco at Fareham, Gunwharf etc. But we ARE fighting to keep trading and the opening of some new shops is very welcome as we try to weather the storm and the effect of other long-established shops closing down. Every High Street has its problems and Gosport has more than most being at the end of a peninsula and with a lack of Council support and investment compared to our neighbours but we still have some super independent shops like John Bowles' Sole Trader so do please support them instead of heading out of town to do your shopping.
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