HULL'S Old Town could be given a Covent Garden flavour by revitalising the indoor market and using a "green bus" to link the area with St Stephen's. Hull City Council's Trinity Quarter Project is also considering market stalls where students can enjoy hands-on training in areas such as catering, as well as providing a platform to sell their wares. Councillor Mary Glew is chairing a panel looking at the proposals, which include the regeneration of the indoor market and outdoor market and building on the "quality offer" within the Hepworth Arcade. She said her vision was to return the Old Town to "its rightful place" as one of the jewels in the city's crown. ​ please log in to view this image Cllr Glew said: "It is not an easy task. Many have tried and failed before me. I set about creating a panel and then the vision, creating what we are looking to call Hull's own Covent Garden. "If we are going to be a Green Port, I think a 'green' bus would be a good idea that could take people from St Stephen's down to the Old Town, near the Argos car park. "We also looked at issues like free parking and more drop-off points." Fellow panel member Adam Fowler said: "In the 1970s, people would walk into the indoor market and would be hit by a wall of noise and a sparkle. "The market is now dying on its feet. "This is partly a generational change as people no longer associate that area of town with market like they did ten or even five years ago. "This vision and how we take it forward is now absolutely critical. "Doing nothing is not an option. We have to do something." The project aims to capitalise on the momentum already achieved by the success of an outdoor market in the Old Town. Retailer Julie Buffey revived the regular outdoor market that used to take place in Trinity Square last year. Beginning with 18 stalls, the monthly event has now grown to 41 stalls. Julie, who launched her shop, Roisin Dubh, in Hepworth's Arcade almost five years ago, said: "I have worked off the Mary Portas review that if the market is to succeed, it needs to offer something different. "The city already has its pound shops and B&M Bargains, I wanted to create something new. "The market started off really well and is now up to 41 stalls. But it is really difficult getting people down Whitefriargate. "The success of this we see as a catalyst for Whitefriargate and the whole area." http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/story-19901686-detail/story.html?#ixzz2h7tAEdLP There's no doubt that it's currently a wasted opportunity, but is there the vision is this mob to realise it's potential?
Put this together with the proposed pedestrianisation of Princes Dock Street to create a Cafe Zone and the potential car park on the other side on the new swing bridge and things could potentially start to come together.
It would be brilliant if the market area started selling high-end goods and exceptional quality food. But it wont cos there isnt a market (arf) for it. Take the continetal markets when they come to Hull as an example. It's packed with people looking at the interesting items but the stallholders say they sell less there than they do in ANY other city in Britain to the extent that it's not worth them coming back. You hear it all the time from browsers "a piece of cheese for a fiver? I can get a massive bit of orange-stuff full of dubious colourants from Iceland for £1". It's a terrible truth Im afraid.
The farmers market already does well in Hessle(and other places), there's a market for premium product if you attract the right people to it. The problem with the Old Town now, is that it's full of poundshops and that's never going to attract the right people.
The old market was, at one time great. I remember spending way too much pocket money at the record stall selling the dinked ex-jukebox singles and then literally sliding across the cobbles (or it may have been tarmac then) next door to Carvers for a pattie and chips. I can still recall the smell as I type.
The knobheads at the Council. They tried to create some kind of super elite market and raised the barriers too high.
The annual Food Festival there last Sunday was a massive success. Fridge, freezer and cupboards all now bulging with premium HU produce. Your one stop shop for top notch chocolates, beers, meats, breads, cakes, pies, jams, cheeses, salamis, chorizos, rapeseed oil, venison, fishcakes etc
the idea has potential , especially some newfangled Trolley Bus idea (obviously not one restricted to power cables) . These carriages are seen in loads of towns and rather than being only an A to B idea , it could also take a route which actually shows off the citys arcitecture and history . Why Does the Bus have to stop at the Argos Carpark ? it could continue under Myton onto Nelson Street etc . I hope this idea doesnt just sit there gathering dust as action is needed pretty sharpish
May sound like a neg head but there are more urgent regeneration priorities needed in City Centre ahead of that scheme. Princes Quay is becoming an empty shell... Whitefriargate now only has footfall because of M&S which surely must be thinking of moving sticks soon.
the idea i guess is giving people a reason or need to walk through Whitefriagate . . as things stand theres no real incentive , but the Bridge on Scale lane is a start but sadly its quite literally a bridge that leads to nowhere at the moment .
The Council are full of idiots, it was them that killed off the market in the first place mainly by refusing to let it relocate nearer to the main shopping areas. Why do they think people are going to trek all the way from St Stephens and the Interchange all the way to Lowgate, even Princess Quay is dying on it's feet. The campaign they have against motorists also means that only those places near to cheap (or free) parking are likely to be successful. But n the meantime the old town is, as always, great for a good night out and a p*ss up!
The council can only do things with the sites it owns, it can do nothing about private landlords asking excessive rents down Whitefriargate and in Prinny Quay.
A year or two ago I put forward an idea to the council saying I think to help stop the decline of the old town, they need to consider a looping free-travel route between St.Stephen's and the old town, and back round again. It is something that is seen in many towns and cities now. I suggested Hull's should play on it's 'green' credentials and look to bring in an electric-powered 'land train' (as a land train would be able to cut down pedestrianised routes, unlike a bus). It could have solar-panelled roofs on the carriages and could be paid for via the land train having 'naming rights' (i.e. approach a 'green energy' company) and also have advertising spaces on each carriage and on the back. Each carriage could have a 'courtesy box' to help pay the drivers wage.
M&S was purpose built for them, so I doubt they pay any rent. I'm surprised they haven't looked to open a second small store closer to St.Stephen's though, as the Whitefriargate one is a bit cramped. and as OLM has said, the likes of Trinity House and Princes Quay are clueless... both could be doing a lot more to bring shoppers back to the old town area, but it seems Trinity House are greedy and aren't bothered - it is a complete after-thought, as seen with their makeshift A4 pieces of paper stuck to the windows of some of their empty shops with 'this could be your business, give us a call' on them... and Princes Quay seems more bothered with putting on crap events with washed up popstars like Atomic Kitten, rather than concentrating on giving the centre a new lease of life.
Whatever happened to plans to pedestrianize Castle Street & build an underpass, thus opening up the Marina to the town centre? As that would have been superb imo.
