Wood Green Marks & Spencer slated for closure - Bowes and Bounds Connected2024-03-29T04:50:26Zhttps://bowesandbounds.org/forum/topics/wood-green-marks-spencer-slated-for-closure?commentId=6278630%3AComment%3A98535&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI live close by and haven't s…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-08-03:6278630:Comment:990972015-08-03T11:23:08.655ZRachella Sinclairhttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/RachellaSinclair
<p>I live close by and haven't seen any hanging baskets going up - thank goodness. However, that link you posted is extremely prejudicial and not really representative of Wood Green.</p>
<p>I live close by and haven't seen any hanging baskets going up - thank goodness. However, that link you posted is extremely prejudicial and not really representative of Wood Green.</p> So my "armchair theorising" a…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:989602015-07-22T13:17:28.875ZJohn Mellorhttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/JohnMellor
<p>So my "<em>armchair theorising</em>" about your views is a bad thing despite the evidence you cite ... but your "<em>armchair theorising</em>" that other members will agree with your elitist attitudes is acceptable? Double standards at best. </p>
<p>Your circular argument that "the shops there reflect the socio-economic group that shop there", is nonsense not an explanation. Your first message suggested demolishing the whole area as you did not approve of those who use it. I believe this…</p>
<p>So my "<em>armchair theorising</em>" about your views is a bad thing despite the evidence you cite ... but your "<em>armchair theorising</em>" that other members will agree with your elitist attitudes is acceptable? Double standards at best. </p>
<p>Your circular argument that "the shops there reflect the socio-economic group that shop there", is nonsense not an explanation. Your first message suggested demolishing the whole area as you did not approve of those who use it. I believe this is clear evidence of prejudice.</p> I'm not blaming "poor people"…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:988602015-07-22T12:55:21.437Zamanda wilkeshttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/amandawilkes
<p>I'm not blaming "poor people". I am simple saying the shops there reflect the socio-economic group that shop there. It's an explanation.</p>
<p>The two links I posted were simply to give this discussion context about what other people, who are not on this forum, think of Wood Green.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I am willing to bet there are a number of people on this forum who think Wood Green/Shopping City is less than desirable but they are afraid of voicing such opinions lest people like you jump up…</p>
<p>I'm not blaming "poor people". I am simple saying the shops there reflect the socio-economic group that shop there. It's an explanation.</p>
<p>The two links I posted were simply to give this discussion context about what other people, who are not on this forum, think of Wood Green.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I am willing to bet there are a number of people on this forum who think Wood Green/Shopping City is less than desirable but they are afraid of voicing such opinions lest people like you jump up and down and scream "racist".</p>
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<p>I would suggest you keep your armchair theorising about any prejudices I have, to yourself.</p> Amanda Wilkes
By linking to t…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:989592015-07-22T11:39:00.217ZJohn Mellorhttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/JohnMellor
<p>Amanda Wilkes</p>
<p>By linking to this two year old discussion full of racist jibes as "evidence" you reveal your own prejudices.</p>
<p>Like it or not the shops in Wood Green cater for people who are spending money and generating employment, if Wood Green is full of people too poor for your sensibilities - then simply stay away. </p>
<p>Larger stores are pulling out for two reasons - </p>
<ol>
<li>short-term commercial considerations based on the retailers profitability and estates…</li>
</ol>
<p>Amanda Wilkes</p>
<p>By linking to this two year old discussion full of racist jibes as "evidence" you reveal your own prejudices.</p>
<p>Like it or not the shops in Wood Green cater for people who are spending money and generating employment, if Wood Green is full of people too poor for your sensibilities - then simply stay away. </p>
<p>Larger stores are pulling out for two reasons - </p>
<ol>
<li>short-term commercial considerations based on the retailers profitability and estates management.</li>
<li>longer term structural issues including online shopping and changing retail environment.</li>
</ol>
<p>Your 1950's image of a golden age of independent traders wasn't even true in the 1950s.</p>
<p>Currently every high street in the UK is undergoing similar changes as government austerity makes it difficult for all of us to survive on low wages and particularly so in London. Placing the blame on "poor people" - the population of the borough who use Wood Green (and are my neighbours) is crassly offensive, arrogant and objectionable.</p> What does http://forums.digit…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:988582015-07-22T10:32:53.257ZMargaret Brownhttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/MargaretBrown
<p>What does <a href="http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557</a> this opinionated (though mixed opinion) forum prove?</p>
<p>I'm not sure where you live Amanda, but there are far worse areas in most of London. If you are complaining about Wood Green and live locally, what input are you giving to improve it? If not, why not if you feel so strongly? If you live locally and hate it but don't…</p>
<p>What does <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557" target="_blank">http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557</a> this opinionated (though mixed opinion) forum prove?</p>
<p>I'm not sure where you live Amanda, but there are far worse areas in most of London. If you are complaining about Wood Green and live locally, what input are you giving to improve it? If not, why not if you feel so strongly? If you live locally and hate it but don't want to try to improve things them why not move? Is Crouch End too expensive? There are some really run down areas round the back of Crouch End. There are some terrible areas in Muswell Hill. I know, I lived there and my mother still does.</p>
<p>I thought that this discussion was about M&S? If it is, then it should be about why they sold the building years ago? Why they are moving despite being in PROFIT - even with half the shop closed, the terrible food hall and clothes choice? How it fits into a bigger picture of closing down main branches, opening food halls, and another attempt at overseas stores?</p>
<p>I personally don't think that it's about the area per se. I think that the fact it needs renovating has made it one of many stores selected for closure.</p> As already stated, Dorothy Pe…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:987632015-07-22T10:15:03.788ZMargaret Brownhttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/MargaretBrown
<p>As already stated, Dorothy Perkins is STILL in Wood Green (in BHS), and isn't IMO a particularly 'good' shop (MOTR style and quality). Furniture shops have gone from most High Streets (the one in Crouch End closed down years ago, and more recently in Muswell Hill did too).</p>
<p>There are a lot of issues with the running and stock selection of M&S in Wood Green. As I said before, I think that they have truly useless buyers (by that I mean the people who decide what to stock, not the…</p>
<p>As already stated, Dorothy Perkins is STILL in Wood Green (in BHS), and isn't IMO a particularly 'good' shop (MOTR style and quality). Furniture shops have gone from most High Streets (the one in Crouch End closed down years ago, and more recently in Muswell Hill did too).</p>
<p>There are a lot of issues with the running and stock selection of M&S in Wood Green. As I said before, I think that they have truly useless buyers (by that I mean the people who decide what to stock, not the customers), and as a result aren't selling as many clothes as before. They recently started selling masses of Per Una, which they never previously stocked, and is a bizarre move around here as it's aimed at middle aged/class women - think a synthetic, badly designed White Stuff copy. Their 'Food Hall' has less food than many corner shops.....and the whole building has been neglected for over a decade....and yet they STILL make profit. If only it was properly run....</p>
<p>Yes, the High Street refurbishment is pathetic. They started re-paving around Turnpike Lane at Easter, and it still isn't finished. I think most of the money is spend on wages to some semi-skilled workers, who are dragging out the job and the people who gave them the contract. It would have been a better move to have renovated some of the building facades, which look terrible.</p>
<p>Other points.....</p>
<p>The biggest 99p shop in the area is actually in leafy Muswell Hill.</p>
<p>The area is extremely busy. How great would any area be with the same level of 'traffic'.</p>
<p>Some positive changes have happened (Burger King turning into Costas, Next moving to bigger premises, the wonderful Spanish bakery, Tiger, TKMaxx expanding etc.)</p>
<p></p>
<p></p> I agree, there's no real diff…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:986632015-07-22T08:34:32.544Zamanda wilkeshttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/amandawilkes
<p>I agree, there's no real difference. Another Haringey Council waste. A few hanging baskets and benchs are not going to improve that area.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/the-hell-that-is-wood-green?id=844301%3ATopic%3A612850&page=1#comments" target="_blank">http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/the-hell-that-is-wood-green?id=844301%3ATopic%3A612850&page=1#comments</a></p>
<p>I agree, there's no real difference. Another Haringey Council waste. A few hanging baskets and benchs are not going to improve that area.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/the-hell-that-is-wood-green?id=844301%3ATopic%3A612850&page=1#comments" target="_blank">http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/the-hell-that-is-wood-green?id=844301%3ATopic%3A612850&page=1#comments</a></p> Sorry, the other bee in my bo…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:989542015-07-22T08:25:36.662ZMichael Dawsonhttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/MichaelDawson
<p>Sorry, the other bee in my bonnet relevant to this topic is the c£4-5m refurbishment of the High Road. Has anyone noticed any significant improvement? All I noticed was the long running disruption to the 221 bus service and pavements being blocked. The actual street scene after the works looks pretty much the same as before. £4m+ is a significant amount of money, which surely could and should have been better spent.</p>
<p>Sorry, the other bee in my bonnet relevant to this topic is the c£4-5m refurbishment of the High Road. Has anyone noticed any significant improvement? All I noticed was the long running disruption to the 221 bus service and pavements being blocked. The actual street scene after the works looks pretty much the same as before. £4m+ is a significant amount of money, which surely could and should have been better spent.</p> http://forums.digitalspy.co.u…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:987622015-07-22T08:15:07.144Zamanda wilkeshttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/amandawilkes
<p><a href="http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557" target="_blank">http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557</a></p>
<p><a href="http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557" target="_blank">http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1827557</a></p> Although it seems controversi…tag:bowesandbounds.org,2015-07-22:6278630:Comment:987612015-07-22T07:49:42.129ZMichael Dawsonhttps://bowesandbounds.org/profile/MichaelDawson
<p>Although it seems controversial to say so, I entirely agree. I would make an exception for the market, though. There are some good stalls there, including the butcher, the greengrocer and the oriental food shop. The £1 a bowl stalls on the high street are also good value. I bought a bag of about ten avocados the other week for £1; I went somewhere the other day and they were trying to sell them for 99p each!</p>
<p>Although it seems controversial to say so, I entirely agree. I would make an exception for the market, though. There are some good stalls there, including the butcher, the greengrocer and the oriental food shop. The £1 a bowl stalls on the high street are also good value. I bought a bag of about ten avocados the other week for £1; I went somewhere the other day and they were trying to sell them for 99p each!</p>