Category Archives: Car Parking

Webinar: “A New Future for Scotland’s Town Centres”

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Leigh Sparks

The Town Centre Action Plan Review was published on the 3rd February. On the 18th February (1430-1530), Scotland’s Towns Partnership are holding a webinar launching the Review. There may be few spaces left (but capacity is close to being reached) … Continue reading →

Posted in 20 Minute Neighbourhood, Barclay Review, Car Parking, Climate Emergency, Community, Community Assets, Community Ownership, Creative Places, Government, High Streets, Leadership, Legislation, Local Authorities, Localisation, Places, Public Policy, Public Realm, Rates, Regeneration, Regulation, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Scotland's Towns Partnership, Scottish Government, Small Towns, Social Inequality, Social Justice, Streets, Streetscapes, Sustainability, Sustainable Development, Town Centre Action Plan, Town Centre Action Plan Review Group, town centre first, Town Centre Living, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Towns, Uncategorized, Understanding Scottish Places, University of Stirling, USP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shops opening and expanding, queues outside: the High Street picture that’s not making the national news

Posted on May 9, 2018 by Leigh Sparks

I recently had an exchange with Iain Nicholson around media coverage of the high street. it followed my recent diatribe about data. I have known Iain for a few years and admired the work he has been doing in towns … Continue reading →

Posted in Car Parking, Consumers, Creative Places, Government, High Streets, Independents, Local Retailers, Localisation, Oxfordshire, Places, Planning, Policy, Producers, Record stores, Retail Diversity, Retail Economy, Retailers, Small Shops, Small Towns, Spaces, town centre first, Town Centres, Towns, Vacancies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Re-imagining the High Street with Technology

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Leigh Sparks

The Grimsey Review of 2013 very strongly made the case that the high street of the future (or indeed of the present) has to embrace the digital world into which many of us have increasingly moved. As technology and consumers … Continue reading →

Posted in Bill Grimsey, Car Parking, High Streets, Independents, Loyalty, Multichannel, Online Retailing, Regeneration, Technology, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Seeing Yellow

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

It is all too easy to rubbish Eric Pickles … I suppose I should simply just stop there … But I meant it is all too easy to rubbish Eric Pickles’ scheme to allow motorists to park on double yellow … Continue reading →

Posted in Car Parking, High Streets, Places, Regulation, Retailers, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

One Night in Falkirk

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

Last night I presented at a meeting held by the Provost and Convenor of Falkirk Council to allow businesses in the town to voice their opinion of the town and to give suggestions as to what can be done to … Continue reading →

Posted in BIDS, Car Parking, Government, High Streets, Independents, Places, Retail Planning, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Planning: Good, Evil or Just Tedious?

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

At the end of April, Planning Minister Derek Mackay published draft proposals for the third National Planning Framework (NPF3) and the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP).  These proposals could have significant impacts on what Scotland considers important and how it will … Continue reading →

Posted in Car Parking, Government, Places, Planning, Rates, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Town Centres, Vacancies | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Town Centres, Post Offices, Courts, Police Stations and Alloa

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

A week or so back I was sent an email about the Alloa Town Centre Post Office being earmarked for closure or “rehoused with a retail partner”. Nothing new in that perhaps – our University post office was closed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Car Parking, Consumer Change, High Streets, MSPs, Places, Post Offices, Rates, Town Centre Review, Town Centres | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

London Calling

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Leigh Sparks

Everyone’s into high streets and town centres these days and there is a large volume of material out there and advice to follow. Little seems to have done much good to date, but we can live in hope. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in BIDS, Car Parking, Government, High Streets, Local Retailers, London, Rates, Retail Policy, Scotland's Town and High Streets, Town Centre Review, Town Centres, Vacancies | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

1 in 7

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Leigh Sparks

The latest figures from the Local Data Company are headlined “Good and bad news”. The good news is that the bleeding has stopped (for now), but the bad news is it still hurts like hell. So 14.3% of shops are … Continue reading →

Posted in Car Parking, Consumer Change, High Streets, Internet shopping, Retail Economy, Town Centres, Uncategorized, Vacancies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Mary, Quite … …

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Leigh Sparks

So, where were you on the day the high street was saved? With just the merest hint of irony, I was in a shopping centre for much of the day. But a shopping centre with fully integrated public transport links … Continue reading →

Posted in Car Parking, Consumer Change, Government, High Streets, Independents, Mary Portas, Places, Red Tape, Regulation, Town Centres, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment