Argos in Sligo

easkey

Argos in Sligo...:mad::mad:
A few people wer asking about Argos in Sligo.
So I sent them an E-Mail and here is there reply:(:(:(

Date: 31 October 2007
Subject: Hello

Dear Sir.
I am writing to you to enquirer as to when or if you will
ever come
to Sligo town in the west of Ireland.
A lot of people like myself would love to see one of your stores in our
town.
As at the moment we have to travel miles to the nearest store.
I think your shop would be a great asset to our town and area for you and
the people of Sligo.
Please let me know when you are coming to my E-Mail.
Thank you........ *********

Dear Mr ******,

Thank you for your e-mail.

Having looked into your query I am sorry to say we have no plans for a store in Sligo at present but as our sister company, Homebase has a store there it is something we will certainly consider in the future.

Should you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us at order.enquiries@argos.co.uk or call us on 0870 600 2020.

Regards,

Leanne McMahon
Argos Direct E-Commerce Customer Service Team.

All we can do is HOPE

Gillie

Can you blame them though?
They were told to feck off and the powers that be could have accomodated them in Cleveragh or somewhere else.

Instead they tried to tell argos what they could and couldn't sell in Carraroe!
They should/could have done more to get them here.

magnumlady

I think we should start up a petition, what do you reckon?:D

We want Argos
We want Argos

(and Heatons, Easons, M&S, Gadget shop.....................)

muffler

magnumlady wrote: »

I think we should start up a petition, what do you reckon?

Maybe lobby the local councillors.

That is one power the councillors do have - the adoption of a town or county plan. They are the people who say ya or nay at the end of the day despite what the planners may recommend.

magnumlady

What do you reckon lads, should we all email a councillor? I think its a good idea, as muffler says they might help.

Gillie

magnumlady wrote: »

What do you reckon lads, should we all email a councillor? I think its a good idea, as muffler says they might help.

Why not.
Have to chose the right one though!

I did email Heatons before and they said they were:
"Still looking for an appropriate site in sligo"

vesp

There are plenty of brown field sites close to the centre of Sligo where Argos could buy and develop if they wanted to. Carraroe is too far out of town for them ....it is on a wet and windy hill at least 35 minutes walk from the town centre. Look at the argos in enniskillen, athlone, castlebar - they are all town centre sites. Besides, if Argos and every other shop was allowed to locate in green field sites in our beautiful countryside, it would have a negative impact on our town planning and environment.

Gillie

vesp wrote: »

There are plenty of brown field sites close to the centre of Sligo where Argos could buy and develop if they wanted to. Carraroe is too far out of town for them ....it is on a wet and windy hill at least 35 minutes walk from the town centre. Look at the argos in enniskillen, athlone, castlebar - they are all town centre sites. Besides, if Argos and every other shop was allowed to locate in green field sites in our beautiful countryside, it would have a negative impact on our town planning and environment.

They could move to Cleveragh (Beside Smiths).
Grand spot for them!

Its not always wet and windy on that hill surely!:D

magnumlady

Argos wanted the Carraroe spot though and afaik the empty unit there was to be there one.
I think its a great place for them to go.

tuppence

If you were to give to one then you would have to give to all. I agree with Vesp (Sorry magnumlady ) I wouldnt like to think that a precedent is set, for short term gain. Planning restrictions there for a reason. Cleveragh not ideal but better than nought. Surely theres some sort of spot in St. Annes near lidls or something.

magnumlady

I think if they had a proper shuttle bus from the town to the retail park in Carraroe then there would be no problem.
It makes sense for it to be there for parking and other shops and aliviating traffic into the town because its on the outskirts.

tuppence

Little shuttle bus nice idea, but considering they arent able to have a regular one to the airport it would have to be a private venture. It would be nice to see an increase public transport timetable to the different estates to the town which might help the congestion. free parking etc. (schuttle buses/city imps)
Still against Argos in Carraroe I am afraid even if they sponsered a bus.....
Suppose, I have a vison of a Blanchardstown centre or Liffey valley concrete mass on the outskirts of Sligo if planning were relaxed. :eek:

easkey

To me I see many many benefits of having Argos, M&S, new Tesco
store and Aldi to name but a few in Sligo.:D:D:D
There are all the Jobs, they bring directly and indirectly.:D
The money they place in our local area through their wages.:D:D:D
This has a large knock-on affect into the places where these workers
Spend there money, e.g. Restaurants-Cinema-Shows-Pubs and
Other Shops in town.:D:D:D
All these Stores attract more people to our town with there money.:D:D

When you go to other stores in Enniskillen, Athlone or Castlebar
you see lots of Sligo people in the queue.
These towns have lots of FREE parking and good Roads around there towns.

Besides, if Argos and every other shop was allowed to locate in green field sites in our beautiful countryside, it would have a negative impact on our town planning and environment.

We do not any shops to do this to our
green field sites as we do it to our self’s
When our planning authority and politicians have proven on all too many
Occasions. Look at all the areas in our town (Estates) that have been destroyed.

I would say if you did a survey of all the members from this area
That 9 out of every 10 have an Argos catalogue in there house.

Ps…can some one tell me where is the public toilet in Sligo!!!

Gillie

easkey wrote: »

Ps…can some one tell me where is the public toilet in Sligo!!!

Now thats a whole other story!

There is none!

Mint Sauce

easkey wrote: »

Ps…can some one tell me where is the public toilet in Sligo!!!

Gillie wrote: »

Now thats a whole other story!

There is none!

we could do a whole seperate thread on that

getting back to argos, what about the empty unit at carraroe, surly that would be the ideal size for one of their argos extra stores

Gillie

irish-stew wrote: »

we could do a whole seperate thread on that

getting back to argos, what about the empty unit at carraroe, surly that would be the ideal size for one of their argos extra stores

Yes but the problem with Argos is that they sell certain items that are not allowed to be sold in Carraroe.
That's the issue here!

vesp

easkey wrote: »

To me I see many many benefits of having Argos, M&S, new Tesco
store and Aldi to name but a few in Sligo.:D:D:D

So can I. So can the town planners. But in Sligo, not on a green field site 40 minutes ( walk ) from Sligo, on top of a wet and windy hill really only accessible by carbon-fuelled vehicles !

Look at the experience of what happened to the town centres of similar towns elsewhere in England , the US etc where they made the mistake of allowing out of town shopping centres miles from the town centre. Sligo should grow from the centre out.

Gillie

vesp wrote: »

So can I. So can the town planners. But in Sligo, not on a green field site 40 minutes ( walk ) from Sligo, on top of a wet and windy hill really only accessible by carbon-fuelled vehicles !

Whoa whoa whoa!!

We are talking about Pearse Road here are we not?

It's not exactly everest! There is a bus service to it which could be developed!

It's not 40 minutes! No way. I'm gonna do it this week and time it!
If i'm wrong i'll apologise!

AlmightyCushion

Gillie wrote: »

Whoa whoa whoa!!

We are talking about Pearse Road here are we not?

It's not exactly everest! There is a bus service to it which could be developed!

It's not 40 minutes! No way. I'm gonna do it this week and time it!
If i'm wrong i'll apologise!

I believe he is on about the retail park.

magnumlady

It took me 15 minutes to walk it a few months ago.

Gillie

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

I believe he is on about the retail park.

Yeah I know. Trying to figure out what hill he's on about

tuppence

I suppose the thing to think about is if you didnt have a car its not that accessible really. It takes X amount of time if you are fit. Imagine if you had a buggy, had arthritis, were in a wheelchair... trying to get up there without public transport?
Anyway car ownership is seen as an indicator of wealth so you would be excluding a large section of people. Parts of Sligo is a Rapid area designated because of its higher levels of disadvantage

muffler

The Retail Planning Guidelines issued by the DoE dictate that retail stores must be located within close proximity to a town centre.

Mint Sauce

magnumlady wrote: »

It took me 15 minutes to walk it a few months ago.

15-20 minutes walk from the belfry

vesp

irish-stew wrote: »

15-20 minutes walk from the belfry

to the petrol station top of pearse road / fork with mail coach road. then another 15 - 20 minutes out by the sligo park, round by the roundabout, up by pizza hut, and the long walk in the wind + rain to those warehouse type buildings on the far side of that large car park. As someone else said ....Imagine if you had a buggy, had arthritis, were in a wheelchair?

Gillie

vesp wrote: »

Imagine if you had a buggy, had arthritis, were in a wheelchair?

Then you'd be on a bus!

In fairness a lot of what you'd by in the stores up there you wouldn't be able to carry home anyway.

In most towns these stores are not exactly in the middle of town either.

tuppence

Gillie wrote: »

Then you'd be on a bus!

In fairness a lot of what you'd by in the stores up there you wouldn't be able to carry home anyway.

In most towns these stores are not exactly in the middle of town either.

I am afraid Gillie thats a luxury that doesnt seem to exist. Unless I got it wrong, there are two buses on a week day up that direction. They then turf you off at the gaa grounds on Pearse road and you have to make your own way from there....(10 mins). Theres a good minibus service on Sat though.
But, None of these are accessible ie theres not an automatic lowering platform that you can just roll on. There then woudlnt be space to roll your wheelchair, buggy in when you are on. Do you know what that would mean trying to get on?........Yes you have to take baby out or you have to be lifted out if you are in a wheelchair.
Then try doing it with shopping...:eek:
Now , I think thats the kind of field trip that everyone should do. Gillie, are you up for the challenge with the buggy?! No cheating now you have to do it on your own with no other adults ! It would be seriously cool if you did.:cool:

They are talking about extending the accessible transport in Sligo but it was supposed to be here already so its just not an option at the moment.


I would have thought it is more of a worry if they did relax the planning and there would more small retail shops you would isolate some of these groups even more.
We also have also alot of negative lessons to learn from some of those towns who have done this before too. The traffic around Blanchardstown is a nightmare for example.

Gillie

Fair points! I thought that the IMP went up there regularly.

As for the buggy "challenge" sure i'd be up for it.

If the buses are not wheelchair accessable then that is a much larger issue.

I wonder if Bus Eireann can shed some light of this and also the schedule to and from the retail park.

Having said all that the Retail park should NOT be in the centre of town!

brianthebard

easkey wrote: »

Ps…can some one tell me where is the public toilet in Sligo!!!

[off topic] The library but its closed mondays. I wonder if you have a legal right to demand the use of the town halls facilities? [/off topic]

(on topic) eh, argos?

tuppence

Gillie wrote: »

Fair points! I thought that the IMP went up there regularly.

As for the buggy "challenge" sure i'd be up for it.

If the buses are not wheelchair accessable then that is a much larger issue.

I wonder if Bus Eireann can shed some light of this and also the schedule to and from the retail park.

Having said all that the Retail park should NOT be in the centre of town!

I think that there is a regular (eg every 20 mins) service on a saturday that goes up to the place, then just two during the week, but I would hate to be mis informing folk, so pls pls double check if you get a chance just in case.You would know the local area.
Anyway the only ones that are accessible are the Strandhill and Rosses point services. The others are pending.........................*pause for whistling in the wind*
Re the "Challenge'. Fair play to Gillie.
Just be careful out there.

TequilaMockingBird

I think, in the interests of research, we would need evidence that Gillie did indeed take on the challenge.

P.S. Gillie pm me if you need a life sized doll for your buggy experiment! I used to do that trip and its a NIGHTMARE

Gillie

Ill gatto accused us Sligoians of being lazy folk and i'm starting to think he was right!

Cmon ppl!

We should all do it! :-)

magnumlady

Thats why I suggested the petition, but no one seems to bovvered.

magnumlady

brianthebard wrote: »

[off topic] The library but its closed mondays. I wonder if you have a legal right to demand the use of the town halls facilities? [/off topic]

(on topic) eh, argos?

Toilet.....Johnston Court but its up two flights of stairs and not a shuttle bus insight:D

easkey

magnumlady wrote: »

Thats why I suggested the petition, but no one seems to bovvered.

Yes all for it:D:D:D

As for walking up to the shops.
Have you ever tried to push a double buggy around the
streets of this TOWN....I have twins.
The path's are too narrow,,,Shops in town do not cater for same.
Newspaper shops-Restaurants (MOSTLY UP STAIRS).
Tesco and Dunnes,Video shops-cloths-Shoe.
Wheelchair friendly...In the cinema they leave you in the
the way of all, stuck near the Exit or Entrance.
Cars parked on every kind of yellow line...No way through:mad::mad:
The Hospitals of Sligo and Manorhamillton-CUT BACKS

But what this has to do with more choice
for the people of Sligo.

Again please direct to the public toilets-PLEASE

Yes to a petition:D

Gillie

easkey wrote: »

Again please direct to the public toilets-PLEASE

We weren't messing earlier!
There actually is none!:mad:

muffler

And the last 3 posts have got what to do with Argos?

These issues are and were discussed in other threads so if you want this thread locked then by all means keep going.

Gillie

He's right. I don't think this topic needed a thread of it's own either.

If it's something new for Sligo or something in relation to planning (like Argos) it should be in the news and views sticky!

easkey

Gillie wrote: »

We weren't messing earlier!
There actually is none!:mad:

I know just trying to make a point about planning-;);)

deco2010

im all for sligo to develop but this town cant get nothin done without someone bitching about any proposal to build anything here,we are being left back in the past look at letterkenny and athlone,so we have quayside and crappy johnstone court thats not enough.would anyone agree with me?

l3LoWnA

vesp wrote: »

Look at the argos in enniskillen, athlone, castlebar - they are all town centre sites. .

Yes, but these are smaller towns with less traffic and probably good parking facilities!! Look at the Argos store in galway, in an atrociously bad spot near the city centre, their parking facilities are sh*te!!! And most people who are buying in Argos will want their car nearby to transport their goods which alot of the time are rather bulky.

Argos in Longford is outside the town and is dead handy!

I think Cleveragh Retail Park would be an ideal spot for Argos in Sligo. Could the OP email them back and tell them we'd all love to see them in Cleveragh! I find it so so handy whenever I've to do a trip to Smyths, it's a great spot! Horrible to see all those other empty Units though!

*** the begrudgers, ie. the monopoly of local business owners who objected so straongly to Argos - let them upgrade their own less-than-excellent services to match these larger chains coming into the town and not be so lax in their own service, that's what I say! I'm delighted to see all these larger chains coming into Sligo, it's about time - but an M&S would be wonderful too!

buckfasterer

is the argos planned to go into the retail park on the galway road outta sligo yeah?

fozzle

buckfasterer wrote: »

is the argos planned to go into the retail park on the galway road outta sligo yeah?

Afraid not, at the moment the Argos store isn't planned for anywhere in Sligo. It was, but it was refused permission.

Gillie

I think Buckfaster might be referring to Toberbride Business Park on the N4/N17 roundabout. Haven't heard anything about planning there as of yet!

fozzle

Gillie wrote: »

I think Buckfaster might be referring to Toberbride Business Park on the N4/N17 roundabout. Haven't heard anything about planning there as of yet!

Ah, perhaps. Though I can't see the Chamber of Commerce randomly giving Argos permission for one site and not another. Though I'm open to correction. *wants to be corrected - wants Argos*

buckfasterer

Argos has to be in a retail park due to parking...store room size etc. is there any other places in sligo where it could be set up other than the retail park outside of town which i mentioned? only curious as im involved in store openings

fozzle

buckfasterer wrote: »

Argos has to be in a retail park due to parking...store room size etc. is there any other places in sligo where it could be set up other than the retail park outside of town which i mentioned? only curious as im involved in store openings

Which retail park did you mean buckfasterer? 'Cos we have a couple of them. If you're looking for business from this your best bet would probably be to email the company directly. Or the management company for the retail park in question.

buckfasterer

Naw naw..... i work for the company and im involved in store openings...going to diff stores in the country to help with setup! currently in Carlow but the conversation came about sligo recently and i was wondering where abouts the Argos was planned to go if it got the go ahead with planning permission??

fozzle

buckfasterer wrote: »

Naw naw..... i work for the company and im involved in store openings...going to diff stores in the country to help with setup! currently in Carlow but the conversation came about sligo recently and i was wondering where abouts the Argos was planned to go if it got the go ahead with planning permission??

Ah. Well afaik it was originally planned for Carraroe, but if you're in the company you should be our mole!

buckfasterer

haha...will do. i kept an eye here recently to see wat was being said and from wat i can gather it would be welcomed. hopefully it will be in the town soon. there are plans to open 20 argos stores in ROI in the next 2 years...Carlow, Waterford 2 and Portlaoise being the first 3.

Gillie

They were due to go into Carraroe Retail Park but they would have been "breaking the rules" in the Environs Plan.

At the time it was seen as "protectionism" by some of Sligo's retailers but there ya go!

The retail park in Cleveragh would be more than adaquate to house an Argos extra and they apparently were offered a unit there by a local businessman but turned it down.

Argos will come to Sligo. It's only a matter of time.