Post by Poundbury on Feb 14, 2006 18:31:30 GMT 1
From the Dorset Echo -
Shoppers just pass us by, say traders
From the archive, first published Tuesday 7th Feb 2006.
TRADERS at Poundbury today demanded more signs to make it easier for people to find them in Pummery Square.
They called for extra markers amid fears that shoppers were getting lost on the way to them and that they were missing out on trade from passing tourists.
And they also insisted that more street lighting was needed to brighten up Prince Charles's dream development to pull in extra trade.
Brian Dodge, landlord of Poundbury's Poet Laureate pub, said: "We want to see signs on the road into Dorchester and in Poundbury itself.
"At the moment people find us because they come across us. The locals know we're here of course - but tourists want to come here, especially in the summer.
"Better signage would help. Other traders feel the same."
Pummery Square has shops, the pub, a restaurant, convenience store and the Brownsword Hall, a community building for people of Poundbury and Dorchester.
The square was at the heart of the first phase of the development in the nineties but has since been swallowed up by the expansion of the estate.
Helen Parsley, franchisee at the Octagon Café, said: "A lot of people have said they came looking for us and couldn't find the place.
"A sign would make a difference."
She thought the best position was at the roundabout entrance to Poundbury off the Bridport Road.
She added: "In the summer people can sit outside under the trees and it's very pleasant. But I think people only find us if they happen to come across us."
Landlord Mr Dodge and his wife Gloria also want to see a more distinctive sign on their pub.
He said: "We would like to have a bigger name sign above the front door."
And more lighting would be a good idea at Pummery Square, traders say.
Mr Dodge said: "It needs to have a bit more lighting than the residential area."
Miss Parsley added: "It is dark on this side of the square especially when the café is closed and the lights are off. "I'm thinking about extending the hours of opening so I'd like to see better lighting."
Simon Conibeare, Poundbury development manager, said: "We have looked at proposals and approved a scheme to erect a street light in Pummery Square.
"We have got some signage there and have just put up a fingerpost sign at Middlemarsh Street indicating Pummery Square.
"We're against too much signage. It has to be discreet."
Mr Conibeare said signs had to match the Duchy's code and would not show business names, only place-names.
Miss Parsley said she was happy to conform with the Duchy designs but favoured a sign indicating the services offered.
"It should say pub and coffee shop and others because the name Pummery Square doesn't mean anything to many people."
Archive Home
From the archive
www.thisisdorset.net
© Newsquest Media Group 2006
Shoppers just pass us by, say traders
From the archive, first published Tuesday 7th Feb 2006.
TRADERS at Poundbury today demanded more signs to make it easier for people to find them in Pummery Square.
They called for extra markers amid fears that shoppers were getting lost on the way to them and that they were missing out on trade from passing tourists.
And they also insisted that more street lighting was needed to brighten up Prince Charles's dream development to pull in extra trade.
Brian Dodge, landlord of Poundbury's Poet Laureate pub, said: "We want to see signs on the road into Dorchester and in Poundbury itself.
"At the moment people find us because they come across us. The locals know we're here of course - but tourists want to come here, especially in the summer.
"Better signage would help. Other traders feel the same."
Pummery Square has shops, the pub, a restaurant, convenience store and the Brownsword Hall, a community building for people of Poundbury and Dorchester.
The square was at the heart of the first phase of the development in the nineties but has since been swallowed up by the expansion of the estate.
Helen Parsley, franchisee at the Octagon Café, said: "A lot of people have said they came looking for us and couldn't find the place.
"A sign would make a difference."
She thought the best position was at the roundabout entrance to Poundbury off the Bridport Road.
She added: "In the summer people can sit outside under the trees and it's very pleasant. But I think people only find us if they happen to come across us."
Landlord Mr Dodge and his wife Gloria also want to see a more distinctive sign on their pub.
He said: "We would like to have a bigger name sign above the front door."
And more lighting would be a good idea at Pummery Square, traders say.
Mr Dodge said: "It needs to have a bit more lighting than the residential area."
Miss Parsley added: "It is dark on this side of the square especially when the café is closed and the lights are off. "I'm thinking about extending the hours of opening so I'd like to see better lighting."
Simon Conibeare, Poundbury development manager, said: "We have looked at proposals and approved a scheme to erect a street light in Pummery Square.
"We have got some signage there and have just put up a fingerpost sign at Middlemarsh Street indicating Pummery Square.
"We're against too much signage. It has to be discreet."
Mr Conibeare said signs had to match the Duchy's code and would not show business names, only place-names.
Miss Parsley said she was happy to conform with the Duchy designs but favoured a sign indicating the services offered.
"It should say pub and coffee shop and others because the name Pummery Square doesn't mean anything to many people."
Archive Home
From the archive
www.thisisdorset.net
© Newsquest Media Group 2006