Aldershot: Difference between revisions
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== Shopping in Aldershot == |
== Shopping in Aldershot == |
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Aldershot shopping |
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''The Galleries'', an extension of the town's mall, The Wellington Centre, was recently opened. It brought many jobs to the area as well as more shops, although recently, some of these shops have closed. [http://www.aldershot.co.uk/news/2001/2001637/stand_up_for_town_campaign] Local traders claim that the new mall and development are threatening the independet shops that operate in Aldershot. [http://www.aldershot.co.uk/news/2001/2001125/calls_for_action_over_the_decline_of_town_centre] A local councillor claimed "we have too many empty shops in the town" and some local residents feel that it has declined since the 1950s, however, there are now fewer empty shops than in 1998. [http://www.aldershot.co.uk/news/2001/2001637/stand_up_for_town_campaign] |
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With its roots as a Victorian boom town, Aldershot had a thriving town centre in the 1950s. |
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Local people will tell you that in the 1950s Aldershot was the premier place for shopping. People would come from miles around to shop in Aldershot. But not any more. Since the 1970s, Aldershot has declined as a town centre, and in recent years that decline has accelerated. |
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Aldershot now has all the classic indicators of a dying if not dead town centre: boarded-up shops, empty streets, graffiti, yobs hanging around, junk food outlets, charity shops, pound shops. |
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Several factors are put forward for the decline: building a shopping mall which ripped out the heart of the town, an edge-of-town Tesco superstore which drained business from the town, amalgamation of Aldershot and Farnborough to form one local authority, crass planning decisions and policies which have favoured developers to the detriment of the needs of the local community. |
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Mrs D I Mather (a local lass who now lives in Somerset) writing in the Aldershot News (23 June 2006) eloquently described what was wrong with Aldershot and the reasons why: |
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'With reference to your article in The News June 9, I would like to assure Ms Pinnell that Aldershot was never a dull, dark and dingy town.' |
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'It was, in fact, a popular and attractive one until the local council moved to Farnborough and the Wellington Centre was built which killed off most of the attractive and well-used shops in Victoria Road, Union Street and Wellington Street which included the two arcades at each end.' |
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'I was born and brought up in Aldershot and return frequently to visit relations and over the last 30 years have seen the town deteriorate with each visit.' |
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'People used to travel from the surrounding areas to shop in Aldershot which was a popular and busy town with a central market place and many owner-occupied businesses, five thriving cinemas, a theatre and Hippodrome. I could point out that the decline has accelerated since the 1970s.' |
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'The Wellington Centre has lacked leadership, foresight and planning for the benefit of the town as a whole, and an out-of-town Tesco was a death knell. The attractive Victorian town of Aldershot has disappeared and in its place a cheap, neglected, squalid town has appeared.' |
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Mrs Mather was echoing similar sentiment expressed by S L Martin writing in the [[Aldershot News]], when he said the only future for Aldershot would be as a small market town (cf nearby [[Alton]]), small and compact with a range of quality retailers, not the same identikit national chain shops seen in every other town. |
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Theirs were two of many similar letters expressing similar sentiments which have recently been published in the local press. |
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Aldershot had a monthly farmers market, but it pulled out. The weekly Thursday market is a remnant of its former glory. Spring 2006, the Co-op announced it too was pulling out of Aldershot. |
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Neighbouring [[Farnborough]] has fared little better. Half the town centre is earmarked for demolition for a superstore. Like Aldershot, it has an air of desolation. |
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Somewhat belatedly and rather late in the day, local councillors have recognised that something is wrong. Consultants are to be appointed to look at both Aldershot and nearby Farnborough. |
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Local people with mobility and choice, shop in [[Farnham]], [[Guildford]] or further afield, in fact anywhere other than Aldershot and Farnborough. |
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* Mrs D I Mather, Decline of a thriving town centre, letters, Aldershot News, 23 June 2006 |
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* Consultants to create new masterplan, Farnborough News, 9 June 2006 |
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* Andrew Milford, Fears protected area may lose Victorian character, Aldershot Mail, 20 June 2006 |
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* S L Martin, Sad to see town centre's decline, letters, Aldershot News, 21 April 2006 |
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* Andrew Milford, Calls for action over decline of town centres, Farnborough News, 7 April 2006 |
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* [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/04/337854.html Keith Parkins, Stench of hypocrisy, Indymedia UK, 8 April 2006] |
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* Jen Rivett, Another store set to close, Aldershot News, 14 April 2006 |
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* Keith Parkins, Partners destroyed the town, Farnborough News, 22 June 2006 |
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== Education == |
== Education == |
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Revision as of 17:37, 30 June 2006
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Template:Infobox England place with map
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland approximately 55 km (35 miles) southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council.
Aldershot is known for its connection with the British Army which established a permanent camp in the area for instruction in military manoeuvres in 1854. This led to rapid growth from a small village to a Victorian town.
The nearby villages of Ash and Ash Vale are in the county of Surrey, though their postal addresses are "Ash, Aldershot, Hampshire" and "Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hampshire", respectively.
Geography
Aldershot is located at 51°15′00″N 00°47′00″W / 51.25000°N 0.78333°W (51.2500, -0.7833)1. The town is generally between 70m and 100m above sea level.
History
Aldershot was a heathland village, until the opening of the British Army base in 1854. The town then boomed, reaching a peak in the 1950s.
On 22 February 1972 Aldershot experienced one of the worst mainland IRA attacks. Seven people, all civilian support staff, including cooks, cleaners, and a Catholic priest, were killed in a car bomb attack on the 16th Parachute Brigade headquarters mess at Aldershot. This blast was later claimed by the Official IRA as revenge for the shootings in Londonderry that came to be known as Bloody Sunday. [1] A memorial has since been built on the site of the attacks.
In 1974 Aldershot Borough and Farnborough Urban district were merged to form the Borough of Rushmoor under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972.
It is claimed that Aldershot's town centre has declined in the latter half of the 20th century.[citation needed]
Transport and communications
The railway station and bus station are both situated off Station Road. The former offering services to London Waterloo (2tph), Alton (2tph), Guildford (2tph) and Ascot (2tph)
Shopping in Aldershot
Aldershot shopping
With its roots as a Victorian boom town, Aldershot had a thriving town centre in the 1950s.
Local people will tell you that in the 1950s Aldershot was the premier place for shopping. People would come from miles around to shop in Aldershot. But not any more. Since the 1970s, Aldershot has declined as a town centre, and in recent years that decline has accelerated.
Aldershot now has all the classic indicators of a dying if not dead town centre: boarded-up shops, empty streets, graffiti, yobs hanging around, junk food outlets, charity shops, pound shops.
Several factors are put forward for the decline: building a shopping mall which ripped out the heart of the town, an edge-of-town Tesco superstore which drained business from the town, amalgamation of Aldershot and Farnborough to form one local authority, crass planning decisions and policies which have favoured developers to the detriment of the needs of the local community.
Mrs D I Mather (a local lass who now lives in Somerset) writing in the Aldershot News (23 June 2006) eloquently described what was wrong with Aldershot and the reasons why:
'With reference to your article in The News June 9, I would like to assure Ms Pinnell that Aldershot was never a dull, dark and dingy town.'
'It was, in fact, a popular and attractive one until the local council moved to Farnborough and the Wellington Centre was built which killed off most of the attractive and well-used shops in Victoria Road, Union Street and Wellington Street which included the two arcades at each end.'
'I was born and brought up in Aldershot and return frequently to visit relations and over the last 30 years have seen the town deteriorate with each visit.'
'People used to travel from the surrounding areas to shop in Aldershot which was a popular and busy town with a central market place and many owner-occupied businesses, five thriving cinemas, a theatre and Hippodrome. I could point out that the decline has accelerated since the 1970s.'
'The Wellington Centre has lacked leadership, foresight and planning for the benefit of the town as a whole, and an out-of-town Tesco was a death knell. The attractive Victorian town of Aldershot has disappeared and in its place a cheap, neglected, squalid town has appeared.'
Mrs Mather was echoing similar sentiment expressed by S L Martin writing in the Aldershot News, when he said the only future for Aldershot would be as a small market town (cf nearby Alton), small and compact with a range of quality retailers, not the same identikit national chain shops seen in every other town.
Theirs were two of many similar letters expressing similar sentiments which have recently been published in the local press.
Aldershot had a monthly farmers market, but it pulled out. The weekly Thursday market is a remnant of its former glory. Spring 2006, the Co-op announced it too was pulling out of Aldershot.
Neighbouring Farnborough has fared little better. Half the town centre is earmarked for demolition for a superstore. Like Aldershot, it has an air of desolation.
Somewhat belatedly and rather late in the day, local councillors have recognised that something is wrong. Consultants are to be appointed to look at both Aldershot and nearby Farnborough.
Local people with mobility and choice, shop in Farnham, Guildford or further afield, in fact anywhere other than Aldershot and Farnborough.
- Mrs D I Mather, Decline of a thriving town centre, letters, Aldershot News, 23 June 2006
- Consultants to create new masterplan, Farnborough News, 9 June 2006
- Andrew Milford, Fears protected area may lose Victorian character, Aldershot Mail, 20 June 2006
- S L Martin, Sad to see town centre's decline, letters, Aldershot News, 21 April 2006
- Andrew Milford, Calls for action over decline of town centres, Farnborough News, 7 April 2006
- Keith Parkins, Stench of hypocrisy, Indymedia UK, 8 April 2006
- Jen Rivett, Another store set to close, Aldershot News, 14 April 2006
- Keith Parkins, Partners destroyed the town, Farnborough News, 22 June 2006
Education
- Oak Farm Community School
- The Connaught School, Tongham Road
Leisure and recreation
The main theatre in Aldershot is the Princes Hall and is located on Princes Way. The Princes Hall plays host to over 80 professional shows per year as well as a 3 week pantomime. Built in the 1970's and remodelled during 1982 the current capacity is 600. Aldershot also plays host to many sports facilities such as Aldershot Tennis Centre, Aldershot Bowling, Aldershot Pools and Lido, Aldershot Garrison Sports Centre and Alpine Snow Sports (Dry Ski Centre).
Sport
The local professional football team is Aldershot Town F.C.. Before 1992 the local club was Aldershot F.C., which folded on 25th March 1992. Aldershot Cricket Club is also based in the Town.
Media
The local press are the "Aldershot Mail", the "Aldershot News", the "Aldershot Courier", and the "Surrey-Hants Star".
Politics
Aldershot is divided into the following wards:
- Rowhill - southwest of the town
- Wellington - west, north and centre of the town
- Manor Park - south of the town
- Heron Wood - southeast of the town
- North Town - northeast of the town.
Aldershot's MP is Gerald Howarth (Conservative), with a majority of 5334 (May 2005). Of the 41 councillors on Rushmoor Borough Council, 15 represent the 5 wards that comprise Aldershot. Of these councillors, 8 are Conservative, 5 represent Labour, 1 represents the Liberal Democrats and there is 1 Independent.
Famous people from Aldershot
- Claude Auchinleck - Field Marshal
- Arthur English - Actor
- Jeremy Hardy - Comedian
- Ian McEwan - Novelist
- Stella Ross-Craig - Botanical artist
- Amelle Berrabah - Sugababes Musician
- Martin Freeman - Actor