Ghost Town

KevIRL

Scary vid...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgRgHRDTsm4

Partizan

Welcome to the Great Economic Depression Mk II. A fitting legacy of 90 years of the failed policies of our political establishment, FF-FG-Lab.

P.S. They forgot to put include Masons and Harveys.

TheGormog

Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town?


We danced and sang, and the music played in a de boomtown

jmcc

Xtravision closed?

Regards...jmcc

mike65

Hmm, its worth watching not to go "OMG we're dying!" but to see the types and locations that are involved - some pretty esoteric items in small low margin markets (foreign foods, organic produce), some duplicates (the cinema and Sony Centre for example), some always marginal (how many specialist sweet shops can a modest city sustain?), some closed for years - O'Briens, Sinnotts, some in sectors that are non-U in the 21st century - pubs, various financial outlets that have been closed for very obvious reasons. Some fall victim to the multiples - Bescos, indy furniture shops, and so on.

thomasm

Between the theatre royal and the GPO there are16 vacant shops which is scary

Finnbar01

I went for a walk our around the industrial estate the other day. Couldn't help noticing the closed down units.

Sad altogether.

Jason Todd

Well that was wholly depressing.

BBM77

Would the person who took these pictures and made the video spend the same time on making a submission to An Bord Pleanala in favour the Newgate Centre if it was resubmitted for planning permission? I think not. It is easy to point and wag your finger but when something can be done few if any do anything.

This video is just a string of pictures with no context and ignores any positives and there are many. Not that threads like this are about being positive.

jad2007

It certainly is a sad situation. One thing i noticed is that there is 5 or 6 sites in the video that are under renovation. The opening scene shows the new Failte office on the quay. The Briscoe Conway jewellry shop is another example there is builders in there at the moment.

Thats not to say its not a terrible situation.

200motels

He left out Stan James betting shop Newport Terc. It's a sad video to see so many shops gone and all because of bankers and the greed of most of us and I include myself in that.

saintsaltynuts

This country really is the Pitts now.

Premier

Ground/commercial rates imposed by the council really dont help at all, In fact its crippling on local business.
A friend of mine has a considerable size shop in town to let, he has reduced the rent to well below what he was getting 7 years ago its just under 20k a year now asking, but the rates are nearly that to pay to the council ?

Jason Todd

BBM77 wrote: »

Would the person who took these pictures and made the video spend the same time on making a submission to An Bord Pleanala in favour the Newgate Centre if it was resubmitted for planning permission? I think not. It is easy to point and wag your finger but when something can be done few if any do anything.

This video is just a string of pictures with no context and ignores any positives and there are many. Not that threads like this are about being positive.

I'm always looking on the positive side of things in general and particularly when it comes to Waterford, but you can't deny that the video is a sad reflection on town. There are businesses thriving there and there are ones like those seen in the video, any normal-minded person would know that. My problem with it is that a lot of the shops are in central locations. It makes the surrounding area look shabby when they are boarded up and doesn't look good to tourists or locals in fairness.

Who said this thread can't be positive? It could become an idea-generating thread, a positive outlook thread. The issue is when the WUMs come on and use these threads to bash certain sections of town.

Jason Todd

Premier wrote: »

Ground/commercial rates imposed by the council really dont help at all, In fact its crippling on local business.
A friend of mine has a considerable size shop in town to let, he has reduced the rent to well below what he was getting 7 years ago its just under 20k a year now asking, but the rates are nearly that to pay to the council ?

Two issues that always come up:

1) The rates are ridiculous, Waterford CityCo needs to cop on.

2) There should be an obligation to maintain the upkeep of the building/facade whether open or closed, and fines should be introduced to those owners who ignore this.

Question is, how do we go about getting the above put into action?!

Max Powers

That video isnt helping anyone or the city centre, im shocked that someone took the time to take all those pictures, what did you hope to achieve except wallowing in your/our own misery. I find it pathetic, we all know Waterford has been hit worst than most. Why not do something positive instead, contact your TDs, Enda, Bruton etc

Pathetic

mike65

Coming soon - pictures of Waterford people looking miserable to the sound of Eleanor Rigby

Jason Todd

Max Powers wrote: »

That video isnt helping anyone or the city centre, im shocked that someone took the time to take all those pictures, what did you hope to achieve except wallowing in your/our own misery. I find it pathetic, we all know Waterford has been hit worst than most. Why not do something positive instead, contact your TDs, Enda, Bruton etc

Pathetic

In fairness to them, they are highlighting it. The more people that realise it, the more people there will be to do something about it. Hopefully. I would hope they didn't make the video to just take the piss.

foxcoverteddy

I don 't think the video was a waste of time, in fact the complete reverse. Do you all not have a vote, use it wisely, get together and form a comittee, put up your own council candidate.
Of course it makes the place look bad not only to tourists but locals also, at one time we would have run down to Waterford for that special shopping, but not now.
Most towns are the same, yes rates need to be reduced but the council's are running on shoestrings, though there are some who allow councillors to get there nose in the trough, do something to stop waste.
It is if you like, the bus station and the railway station, I would have come on the train but there is no way I am going to walk to the town centre and back with shopping, taxi, forget it cannot afford such luxury.
Think positive

alphasounds

I got a ticket for not displaying a parking ticket
as i jumped into a small shop to buy a bread, really 3 min.
Wont happen again.

KK has the first 15 min free. - Brilliant.
The most shopping barracks offer free parking on private ground.
Waterford is public space but charges for every minute, and way to much.

Max Powers

alphasounds wrote: »

I got a ticket for not displaying a parking ticket
as i jumped into a small shop to buy a bread, really 3 min.
Wont happen again.

KK has the first 15 min free. - Brilliant.
The most shopping barracks offer free parking on private ground.
Waterford is public space but charges for every minute, and way to much.

Pathetic, why didnt you park in car park, put a measly 30c into meter and do your errant. You thought parking illegally was better. I always love the language....i just popped in, jumped in, just a minute....thats why the 15 min thing is rubbish and near impossible to manage. BTW, on KK council web page it says first 15 min for 50c and one hour is €1.50. Its €1 in Waterford.

http://www.kilkennycity.ie/eng/Services/Traffic/Parking_in_Kilkenny/

My advise would be to park on outskirts of Waterford city for free or else open the vault and put a few cents in the meter and the local economy while you are at it.

Mugser

Tara Blinds are operating from their premises in Tramore.

BlaasForRafa

Max Powers wrote: »

Pathetic, why didnt you park in car park, put a measly 30c into meter and do your errant. You thought parking illegally was better. I always love the language....i just popped in, jumped in, just a minute....thats why the 15 min thing is rubbish and near impossible to manage. BTW, on KK council web page it says first 15 min for 50c and one hour is €1.50. Its €1 in Waterford.

http://www.kilkennycity.ie/eng/Services/Traffic/Parking_in_Kilkenny/

My advise would be to park on outskirts of Waterford city for free or else open the vault and put a few cents in the meter and the local economy while you are at it.

BlaasForRafa

Max Powers wrote: »

That video isnt helping anyone or the city centre, im shocked that someone took the time to take all those pictures, what did you hope to achieve except wallowing in your/our own misery. I find it pathetic, we all know Waterford has been hit worst than most. Why not do something positive instead, contact your TDs, Enda, Bruton etc

Pathetic

This video shows Waterford as it is, you get first prize in the sticking your head in the sand and ignoring things competition. Go off and make a video about sunshine and lollipops or something if you don't appreciate this one.

mike65

Short stay parking should be free Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

decies

Me thinks the car park owners are going to have to think outside the box more than ever this festive season , just don't hold your breath as long as their making decent profit they have no incentive to do anything !!!

Psychedelic

Just on the parking issues, WLR reported earlier in the week that the Port of Waterford Company has objected to a new city centre car park, what the fcuk are they at? I believe the Port own one of the car parks on the Quay so they probably see the new car park as a threat to their income or something. I know they are a private company but it's still sad that they do not have the city's best interests at heart.

Jason Todd

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

This video shows Waterford as it is, you get first prize in the sticking your head in the sand and ignoring things competition. Go off and make a video about sunshine and lollipops or something if you don't appreciate this one.

In fairness to Max Powers, from where I sit, he hasn't got his head in the sand on Waterford's issues, he is the first one on here (along with fricatus) to criticise people in power and make his voice heard by email / post etc. Like myself, I think he'd rather see the positives to our City rather than appreciate any negatives.

mike65

Psychedelic wrote: »

Just on the parking issues, WLR reported earlier in the week that the Port of Waterford Company has objected to a new city centre car park, what the fcuk are they at? I believe the Port own one of the car parks on the Quay so they probably see the new car park as a threat to their income or something. I know they are a private company but it's still sad that they do not have the city's best interests at heart.

Pathetic stuff, competition how are you? Oh wait Port of Waterford company is stuffed with semi-staters isn't it.?

wmpdd3

I thought the end plan was for no car parks on the quay, not much point objecting if you getting closed down anyway.

Max Powers

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

This video shows Waterford as it is, you get first prize in the sticking your head in the sand and ignoring things competition. Go off and make a video about sunshine and lollipops or something if you don't appreciate this one.

You havent a clue if you think trying to accentuate the positive and being proactive is sticking head in sand. I find it pathetic and pitiful that a person would go out take those pictures and put a video together, as i said wallowing in their own misery. This video doesnt show Waterford 'how it is' fairly. A lot of good has been done around, yes we are in worse shape employment wise that other places but anytime i put an open thread about doing something positive on here, the same few heads put up or shut up while the rest go on complaining about isnt XYZ terrible never bothering to do the proactive, contact the garai, TDs, ministers, local reps.
The whinging on here about queues in shops, getting parking tickets for illegally parking, cost of parking when it is clearly very competitive, retail selection (not as good as Dublin or Cork granted), generally spouting inaccurate drivel and the morons who cheer-on this reminds me of people burying their head in the sand.

foxcoverteddy

Do you realise that what was the norm twenty or thirty years ago, no longer applies, we all tend to live in the past, yes if you like stick our headfs in the sand.
Shops, on-line shopping has decimated many small businesses, how many years before the king of shops, the supermarket goes the same way?
We did not need to go out the whole winter, Tesco delivered, on time and with a happy smile.
Parking, yes a problem in most towns, despite the things said about Kilkenny, it is a dump to park in, Market Cross three ways in and one out, planning stupidity, Market Yard, a car bodywork repairer's dream, McDonough, you need a map and plenty of money, the car park in Vicar St, about as well planned as a public toilet. There again who designed City Square?
Having said all that parking off Oxford St in london, or Bond St, one needs a bank loan, you would not mind what it cost's in Waterford.
Another problem Waterford really has very little to offer the true shopper, would anyone really bother parking near the city centre, not when you have such a selection outside the city limits.
You have to remember that Waterford, and the like were built and planned so long ago, they are not sustainable as relic's of days gone by.
Look to the future, it is too late to regtenerate the city as you knew it, and it is not wingeing, it is facing the situation as it is and will be for the forseeable future.

funk junky

Look let's not forget that the town has shrunk and expanded before. This is a cyclical event and it won't be the last time it happens. My dad had to leave Waterford to go to London years ago. My grandad did the same thing before him. Guess where I am! But for different reasons. Look at the upside. At least houses are cheap to buy and cheap to rent.

I live in a small ****ty house in zone 3 of London. Many many many business's closing down. Massive drug problem , huge unemployment rates, baffling crime rate, just like the deise the way it's described on here but the fact is that's its much much worse and the rent is astronomical.

For the money I pay here I could be buying a huge house on the river back home. Now consider I'm only earning a fraction above dole money (Irish dole) and I'm sure you will start to see how much we have going for us at home. A beautiful city a sense of community ,history and surrounded by beautiful beaches and countryside , we have a very very high standard of living and we forget that so quickly.

And please don't think I'm out of touch as I only moved over here this day last year. And I'm literally counting the days till I can get back (July)

Max Powers

funk junky wrote: »

Look let's not forget that the town has shrunk and expanded before. This is a cyclical event and it won't be the last time it happens. My dad had to leave Waterford to go to London years ago. My grandad did the same thing before him. Guess where I am! But for different reasons. Look at the upside. At least houses are cheap to buy and cheap to rent.

I live in a small ****ty house in zone 3 of London. Many many many business's closing down. Massive drug problem , huge unemployment rates, baffling crime rate, just like the deise the way it's described on here but the fact is that's its much much worse and the rent is astronomical.

For the money I pay here I could be buying a huge house on the river back home. Now consider I'm only earning a fraction above dole money (Irish dole) and I'm sure you will start to see how much we have going for us at home. A beautiful city a sense of community ,history and surrounded by beautiful beaches and countryside , we have a very very high standard of living and we forget that so quickly.

And please don't think I'm out of touch as I only moved over here this day last year. And I'm literally counting the days till I can get back (July)

Fair play Funkjunky, Im forever saying i would love to get back to London for a visit (maybe not the are you describe) i think part of the problem with some on here is their willingness to complain and do F-all about it. Willingness to complain with no concept of the problems being faced and comparing them with some weekend holiday they had recently. Im the first to recognise challenges are around, no denying the challenges. However, mindless complaining of the joe duffy style by some on boards is not going to help us out, in fact they add to the challenge. I heard some lads in their 20s complaining about the harvest festival thing on sunday, this is the mentality of some Irish people. Anyone that was there knows it was excellent, some arent happy unless they are being handed free pints on theit favourite stool. Anyway, a bit of persepctive offered by yourself there is most welcome.

foxcoverteddy

Funkyjunky, brill post by any standard.
I lived in south west london for many years, then came to Ireland in 1993 for a holiday, no connections, relations, came with friends, almost the moment we got off the boat, we all said wow this some place.
We all now live here, none of us go back, we love the place, the people and all that goes with it.
Yes Irish people complain when really they have so much, perhaps living in london or some other large UK city would let them see what Ireland is about.
I can't think of anything to bring to Ireland from the UK, well maybe Sainsbury's.
Waterford, Clonmel any all the other towns will come back, if we can stop the greedy politicians ripping us off, no onbe minds paying for services etc but those in the Dail have really gone too far, and the present crew have not the guts to put an immediate end to it, they allow local councils to get in the trough as well.
We should say this is our Ireland if you are running it, do it properly or get out.
You will not find another beach like clonea or Stradbally, come home.

fiesty lady

yeah parking in waterford is expensieve, and run over by a few minuets and you could end up with a 4o euro fine. You still have to put a parking ticket on the car on friday evenings until 8pm and there are very few shops open.!!
New street car park is doing a special offer on tuesdays and thursdays of 140 per hour.:)

mike65

foxcoverteddy wrote: »

I can't think of anything to bring to Ireland from the UK, well maybe Sainsbury's.

Ambitious Pleb! Waitrose would be nice!

alphasounds

Max Powers wrote: »

Pathetic, why didnt you park in car park, put a measly 30c into meter and do your errant. You thought parking illegally was better. I always love the language....i just popped in, jumped in, just a minute....thats why the 15 min thing is rubbish and near impossible to manage. BTW, on KK council web page it says first 15 min for 50c and one hour is €1.50. Its €1 in Waterford.

http://www.kilkennycity.ie/eng/Services/Traffic/Parking_in_Kilkenny/

My advise would be to park on outskirts of Waterford city for free or else open the vault and put a few cents in the meter and the local economy while you are at it.

Sorry my reply comes so late.

Pathetic is spending money on the local economy
with the parking meter.
I guess a free ticket print for the next 15 min is very easy to program.
And your strange advice does nothing to promote Waterford as far as i can see.
The result does speak not exactly for your point of view.

Last time i was in kk 15min were free, might changed now.
My idea is some little freedom somehow to promote Waterford inner city as public space.