The Argylls

This film of the recent Argylls parade in Dumbarton comes courtesy of local man Tommy Crockett.

Happy New Year To All.

Despite these desperate times for business of all shapes and sizes it is essential we retain a sense of humour. This cartoon from Brian Petrie in yesterday’s Sun I think hits the spot.

Happy New Year Everyone!

High Street Closed this Thursday 11th

All business owners, employees, customers and shoppers please note:

Dumbarton High Street will be closed this Thursday between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. This is due to a parade by the Argylls who have returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Some Councillors STILL in Denial

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Geoff Calvert at Wednesday’s meeting. Thankfully it was defeated 6-3. I have responded below via a press release

Motion to Housing, Environment and Economic Development Committee
>
> – 3 December 08
>
> Agenda Item 9 – Dumbarton Town Centre – Traffic Management and Parking
>
>
> This Committee notes the opinions of MVA Consultancy in that it does not
> believe that traffic management and parking are factors adversely
> affecting
> the performance of the retail operations in the town centre and that there
> are many other factors.
>
> Furthermore, this Committee notes that MVA has concluded that the detailed
> proposals from Business in Dumbarton are neither desirable nor possible
> and
> that the proposed changes to bus operations they suggest, would be
> contrary
> to the Scottish Government’s national transport policy.
>
> On a more positive note, MVA states that, in line with the potential
> success of Markets within other town centres, there is potential for a
> Market in Dumbarton. At a local level, Clydebank is a fine example of how
> a
> market can bring benefit to businesses within the local retail sector.
>
> This Committee believes that the stimulus a Market would bring to the
> vibrancy of Dumbarton is an opportunity that must not be overlooked.
>
> Therefore, in addition to the Recommendations in para 8.1 of this report,
> this Committee agrees that:
>
>   A market day be established in Dumbarton on a weekly basis on Thursdays,
>   so as not to conflict with the Wednesday market in Clydebank, with
>   effect from the beginning of April 2009
>
>   A report be brought to the next HEED Committee outlining the costs, e.g.
>   for road closures etc, to the Council to instigate this exciting
>   initiative
>
> And that
>
>   The Committee makes budget provision for such costs within its financial
>   budget for 2009/10

Response

“Business for Dumbarton welcomes the decision by the Housing, Environment
and Economic Development Committee to readmit car traffic into Dumbarton
High Street. We applaud the acknowledgement by the council that it has been
a failure and that at long last something will be done to improve the plight
of businesses and their customers, particularly the elderly and disabled. We
would of course have presferred that our own proposal be adopted and will
continue to campaign on that front. Dumbarton High Street and Town Centre
has many problems but the fact that 60% of our customers cannot even access
the place is by far the most significant

We find Councillor Calvert’s comments and motion extremely unhelpful and
quite frankly, unbelievable. Let us not forget that the current traffic
management scheme was part of an extravagant Acton Plan designed to “restore
vibrancy and vitality to Dumbarton Town Centre” by 2005. In 2000 I wrote to
the Lennox Herald about the Action Plan declaring that I saw it as a recipe
for continued downward footfall, shop closures and diminishing safety and
security. Councillor Calvert was one of the prime movers of the plan with
then Town Centre Manager Ian Davison Porter. Even now when the evidence is
there for all to see that the Action Plan has spectacularly failed, he
doesn’t have the simple good grace to admit that. To imply that the traffic
management scheme does not impact on the retail operations of Dumbarton is
to seriously misrepresent the true situation.

Business for Dumbarton will support any initiative which seeks to address
the decline in footfall, but we would much prefer to see an attempt to fill
empty shops rather than a weekly market. Clydebank and Dumbarton are very
different animals indeed. The best way to encourage traders back into the
town is to create an attractive trading environment. The tragedy is that it
could have beeen done at a fraction of the cost of the measures which have
put the town on its knees.

High Street to Reopen

Posh sign. - derelict High Street

Yesterday at a committee meeting at Clydebank Town Hall the council took the decision at a committee meeting to reopen Dumbarton High Street to traffic. Parking restrictions are to remain in place. I have not yet seen the detailed report by consultants MVA and will refrain from further comment until I do.

However apparently there was an acknowledgement that the current traffic management system had failed over its three years of operation. Business for Dumbarton’s consistent opposition to the changes, have played no small part in yesterday’s decision. The recent decision to reopen streets in Paisley I’m sure played a pert in the council’s thinking too.

This is a time for reflection. Had the council at the time only  listened to the widespread opposition to these plans I’m sure several businesses which have disappeared would still be trading. All the money spent on discouraging customers from the High Street could have been saved.

Changes will not suddenly make the town centre and High Street busy again and I would once again draw the council’s attention to our modest action plan and Traffic Management proposals before any further physical changes are made to the streetscape. However we applaud the acknowledgement that the current system has failed and we look forward with more hope in these difficult times.