When the shoe is on the other foot how quick do we forget the sins of the past.
After seen a once thriving business sector turned into a ghost town by diabolical decisions of incompetence beyond comprehension, I cringe in agony the bleating of the Riverstink owners in regard to the city revamp.
How this company got the go ahead to build where it is on a flood plain, destroy historic heritage still I feel needs to be investigated and the damage those decisions made to existing retailers, many long standing icons of Ipswich business history is clear evidence of why administrators and planners should make valued judgments based on data not councillors.
We saw a thriving city of three major retail outlets with the centre being ipswich city hub fully leased by retailers from the top of town to Queens Park be destroyed in one foul swoop by a stroke of genius equaling that of Frank Spencer.
Then let’s not forget how Riverlink was not to open until the footbridge was completed. Another deal done to accomodate a Developer at the detriment of existing retailers in the mall, and let’s also not forget the effect it had on retail traffic to other lease holders in other centres who saw traffic counts crash as rents went up.
Don’t get me wrong here I bleed for those mum and dad retailers who are paying exorbitant rents trying to make ends meet in a city of ever decreasing disposable income and I sincerely hope when the new centre opens rents will make it more than competitive to entice those type of businesses away from the conglomerates who fleece the small businesses and reward the multi national tenants rent wise.
The Lateral Hazard 