Quote: ROBINSON "God you do drone on.
Of course it's a matter of opinion. However the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and in the case of the Grand Arcade, Trafford Centre, Golden Square or wherever, the truth of the matter is that the retailers like it and the customers like it.
Take Standishgate. Whether you like it or not, the shops (in the main) are tiny, badly shaped, full of support pillars, inflexible and expensive to maintain. This is no one's fault - it's just that they were built to suit the retailers of the day.
These days, customers like bigger shops and companies have larger stock ranges. Therefore they need bigger, more flexible retail space with minimal maintenance costs. I've not even mentioned DDA compliance yet.
And as for your comment 'You would think the council would try and create an environment for retailers to thrive in to encourage more visitors', well forgive me if I'm wrong but don't the three development I've mentioned do just that? Don't you think these developments would have got the go ahead if it wasn't for the involvement of their respective local councils?
If you would rather do your shopping on an uneven street with steep inclines, restricted access with restrictive stock levels due to restrictive shop size then you, my friend, are living in the 1970s.'"
Where else would I get my Hovis from !!!!!!!!!!!