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What do you want in the town centre? Join the debate

Written by Chris (editor) on Tuesday July 1st, 2008 at 6:00 am

We have started an interesting debate on our forum with the aim of trying to find out what you want in Bradley Stoke’s new town centre.

The newly-named Willow Brook Centre will fully open in 2009 with 15 large retail units and some smaller shops and restaurants.

So far, only Reflections Hairdressing Salon has confirmed it will feature alongside Tesco Extra.

Fast food chain KFC and Costa Coffee have both indicated they are looking at moving in as well but have yet say for definite if they will open.

Suggestions for stores so far include jewellers, travel agents, banks and clothes stores.

But what do YOU want - let us know either by hitting the comments on this story or by heading over to our forum.

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Similar & related stories from The Bradley Stoke Examiner:
• September 17, 2008 -- Willow Brook Centre shop rejig is given thumbs up by planners
• September 13, 2008 -- Pump payment facility installed at Tesco - but they still do not work
• August 29, 2008 -- Town centre manager reassures residents over pedestrian crossings
• August 28, 2008 -- Fast food firm KFC confirmed as new Willow Brook Centre tenant
• August 28, 2008 -- Laptop and cash handed over to Colitis and Crohn’s Disease group

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Categories for this story: Town centre

7 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Mike The Ref // Jul 1, 2008 at 7:38 am

    The only problem is that Tesco’s own the site and will only allow the shops that they want i.e. ones that won’t compete too much.

  • 2 flurfychicken // Jul 1, 2008 at 8:26 pm

    I definately don’t want a KFC!! I think most of the residents of Bradley Stoke would like restaurants with a bit more class, where you can have a relaxing meal out. If you want KFC there are two which are pretty close to BS. Just think of all the litter. pests and the greasy frying smells a KFC would produce - not to mention the chickens they KILL.

  • 3 Lagoyu // Jul 2, 2008 at 11:13 am

    It would be good to have a decent sized book shop with a coffee shop connected much as Borders do with Starbucks.

  • 4 Matt // Jul 2, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    I’m glad KFC’s are moving there - means I won’t have to drive the massive distance the the Shield Centre to get my dose of loverly chicken bits!!!

    Being serious however, I think a dentists and possibly an opticians are a must (aren’t tesco’s having an opticians in store?). Also think lagoyu’s suggestion of a decent book shop is a good one along with perhaps some other decent stores - preferable stuff that’s not already @ Cribbs etc.

  • 5 GarDJ // Jul 4, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    God, Flurfychicken needs to move - Clifton perhaps! KFC - great , as Matt said saves having to travel too far. Bring it on and lets not get to upmarket about the town centre - we want people to go there - not just a few smug couples knowing they got their way as they stroll around an empty town centre.

  • 6 Tarka the Blowpig // Jul 7, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    Having moved to Bradley Stoke from Abingdon in Oxfordshire I can promise you that any shops will be an improvement on where I’ve come from as Abingdon is a town where the councillors are happy to see the centre die as long as they can fill the space with dormitary flats no one can afford. So! One charity shop would be okay, a couple of nice resterants (Indian, Chinese, Thai maybes) an opticians, a dentists (National Health, he, he), sports supply shop perhaps. All bearing in mind Mike the Ref’s comments that Tesco’s will kibosh just about anything thats proposed!

  • 7 flurfychicken // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:34 pm

    Tarka’s got the right ideas. We need a good mix of places that everyone would like to visit and would like to use (if TESCO don’t mind having competition).

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