Demand Renovation and Investment for the Riverside Shopping Centre, Evesham
Demand Renovation and Investment for the Riverside Shopping Centre, Evesham
The Issue
The Riverside Shopping Centre was once a vibrant hub of our town, attracting local and out-of-town shoppers alike. However, years of neglect and decline have turned our once proud centre into an unrecognisable and unsightly space. The Riverside Shopping Centre reflects poorly on Evesham, which harms the economic prospects and community spirit of our town. The time to reverse this decline is now.
As retail transitions to online, areas once designated for the traditional shopping model are being transformed into desirable community spaces, hosting a bustling space for hospitality and leisure businesses to thrive.
A number of government and local authority reports show that investing in community spaces significantly improves residents' well-being and encourages local economy's growth. Revitalised centres can serve as a beacon for tourist attraction and local business. Such investment will not only improve Evesham's environment, but restore community pride, and bring valuable financial benefits.
With Tripadvisor reviews such as:
Evesham the ghost town. (Jun 24): Visited Evesham today. We parked in the riverside car park. It was deserted. We entered the town through the riverside shopping complex what a mess.
wTF (Jun24): Well just had a walk into Evesham. OMG, what has happened. Like being in a scene from a zombie movie. Had considered this as a place to relocate to a few years ago but having spent 5 minutes here , that was soon dispelled.
NOT how I remembered it! (Mar 24): Oh dear. My first trip back to Evesham since the early nineties. I remembered a pretty, bustling, riverside town that felt “posh” and very Cotswolds. Whatever has happened?! It was desolate. The Riverside Centre car park and shopping centre was horrendous, the town centre bleak.
28 Days Later Film Set (Nov 23): The Film Set for 28 Days Later… Come and see the apocalypse of Evesham Town Centre it’s like a setting for some type of Zombie movie or the aftermath of a nuclear war. 25 minutes max & it was like I had escaped as I headed back home…
Desperate for an uplift (Apr 23): Very run down overall. Shopping centre deserted. High street shops trying to do their best , one or two decent pubs and cafes.
Disappointed (Oct 22): Never been here before, never again !!! Run down and seedy feel to the place.Had an hour there that was enough
Not my type of town centre (Oct 22): There is an underlying feeling of a town centre dying on its feet . The indoor shopping precinct is almost empty of shops and the two streets where there are shops look desperate for some reinvestment.
We appeal to the district and local councils, alongside the private owners of the Riverside Shopping Centre, to uphold their responsibilities to the town and turn around the neglect and cycle of non-investment. Our town centre is an embarrassment and we urge those in authority and ownership to make every possible step to lobby for investment and significantly renovate our town centre.
The Riverside shopping centre was purchased in 2016 by its current owner. Upon purchase the owners declared that the centre had a low ebb, And had plans to renovate the centre to turn the decline of the town around. Since, we have seen nothing but more decline.
The town sadly failed to secure investment from the Government Brexit levelling up fund, back in 2022.
The time to invest is NOW. Evesham is a growing town, with a large number of residential homes being built in and around the town. With articles such as the Daily Telegraphs (linked below), suggesting that with direct links to London, the town is attracting a wealth of remote working / commuter professionals whom look to relocate to rural locations. So let’s level up the town centre, raise the bar and show our support in making the changes we so desperately need.
This petition will be presented to Councillors at all levels, our MP and the Riverside Shopping Centre owners.
We need your support to bring about this change. Please sign the petition to demand accountability and substantial progress for our community.
Sources:
https://worcestershiregrowthhub.co.uk/investments-eveshams-future/
https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-mission/
https://eveshamtowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PRINTED_TOWN_PLAN-E_Copy.pdf
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/property/15-affordable-commuter-towns/
182
The Issue
The Riverside Shopping Centre was once a vibrant hub of our town, attracting local and out-of-town shoppers alike. However, years of neglect and decline have turned our once proud centre into an unrecognisable and unsightly space. The Riverside Shopping Centre reflects poorly on Evesham, which harms the economic prospects and community spirit of our town. The time to reverse this decline is now.
As retail transitions to online, areas once designated for the traditional shopping model are being transformed into desirable community spaces, hosting a bustling space for hospitality and leisure businesses to thrive.
A number of government and local authority reports show that investing in community spaces significantly improves residents' well-being and encourages local economy's growth. Revitalised centres can serve as a beacon for tourist attraction and local business. Such investment will not only improve Evesham's environment, but restore community pride, and bring valuable financial benefits.
With Tripadvisor reviews such as:
Evesham the ghost town. (Jun 24): Visited Evesham today. We parked in the riverside car park. It was deserted. We entered the town through the riverside shopping complex what a mess.
wTF (Jun24): Well just had a walk into Evesham. OMG, what has happened. Like being in a scene from a zombie movie. Had considered this as a place to relocate to a few years ago but having spent 5 minutes here , that was soon dispelled.
NOT how I remembered it! (Mar 24): Oh dear. My first trip back to Evesham since the early nineties. I remembered a pretty, bustling, riverside town that felt “posh” and very Cotswolds. Whatever has happened?! It was desolate. The Riverside Centre car park and shopping centre was horrendous, the town centre bleak.
28 Days Later Film Set (Nov 23): The Film Set for 28 Days Later… Come and see the apocalypse of Evesham Town Centre it’s like a setting for some type of Zombie movie or the aftermath of a nuclear war. 25 minutes max & it was like I had escaped as I headed back home…
Desperate for an uplift (Apr 23): Very run down overall. Shopping centre deserted. High street shops trying to do their best , one or two decent pubs and cafes.
Disappointed (Oct 22): Never been here before, never again !!! Run down and seedy feel to the place.Had an hour there that was enough
Not my type of town centre (Oct 22): There is an underlying feeling of a town centre dying on its feet . The indoor shopping precinct is almost empty of shops and the two streets where there are shops look desperate for some reinvestment.
We appeal to the district and local councils, alongside the private owners of the Riverside Shopping Centre, to uphold their responsibilities to the town and turn around the neglect and cycle of non-investment. Our town centre is an embarrassment and we urge those in authority and ownership to make every possible step to lobby for investment and significantly renovate our town centre.
The Riverside shopping centre was purchased in 2016 by its current owner. Upon purchase the owners declared that the centre had a low ebb, And had plans to renovate the centre to turn the decline of the town around. Since, we have seen nothing but more decline.
The town sadly failed to secure investment from the Government Brexit levelling up fund, back in 2022.
The time to invest is NOW. Evesham is a growing town, with a large number of residential homes being built in and around the town. With articles such as the Daily Telegraphs (linked below), suggesting that with direct links to London, the town is attracting a wealth of remote working / commuter professionals whom look to relocate to rural locations. So let’s level up the town centre, raise the bar and show our support in making the changes we so desperately need.
This petition will be presented to Councillors at all levels, our MP and the Riverside Shopping Centre owners.
We need your support to bring about this change. Please sign the petition to demand accountability and substantial progress for our community.
Sources:
https://worcestershiregrowthhub.co.uk/investments-eveshams-future/
https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/our-mission/
https://eveshamtowncouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PRINTED_TOWN_PLAN-E_Copy.pdf
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/property/15-affordable-commuter-towns/
182
Petition created on 15 June 2024