It was the talk of the town - for all the wrong reasons!

But there's a new face to the former Cancer Research shop on Aughton Street following multiple complaints about its appearance to the Borough Council. Things got so bad recently that parts of its rotten wooden facia were falling of in bad weather, endangering passing shoppers and pedestrians.

The rotting wood's now been replaced with this smart plastic frontage.

Sooner or later authorities are going to have to come to terms with the fact Town Centres, not just Ormskirk, but right across the country are no longer viable! Shopping habits have and will continue to change, another and more imaginative use has to be found for these buildings.

Instead of developing valuable Green belt land, better use of Council time would be to produce a long term plan to make the town habitable for young families and converting many of these obsolete shops and business premises into living accommodation and revitalise the town this way, there will always be a need for a few specialist shops but not on the scale as was!

The Town cannot be sustained by flooding it with none tax paying student landlords nor is using highly productive greenbelt land to developing huge amounts of houses with no idea on how or where the occupants will find the work and adding too the burden on taxpaying residents who already subsidise student Landlord to the tune of Millions every year and the continuing demise of the Town of Ormskirk!

You gets what you vote for!

How many empty units are there in the town centre? I can think of 3. 3 empty units in a town centre the size of Ormskirk is a world away from the average high Street. I've said it before and I'll say it again, your blindsided hatred of students in this town is causing you to ignore the fact that Ormskirk is far better off than the majority of town centres that do not have a substantial student population. Wake up man and get over yourself.

Originally Posted by minorityvoice

How many empty units are there in the town centre? I can think of 3. 3 empty units.

Ok then lets test your response.

Cottage Hospital. Most of the new police station, all the old police station, Magistrates court and buildings, all most empty Council office on Derby St West, RBS building, The old post office in this article, the Windmill. The bus station shop. And others.

Yes the town is eternally grateful for the wealth and prosperity the student economy has brought to the Town. That is if you simply want to get drunk or drown your-self in coffee! You haven’t set the bar very high have you!

How much revenue have we tax paying residents lost to out of town Landlords for student accommodation In the past 15 years which could and should have been used for the purpose we Residents have to pay tax for, but for clarity, perhaps you can explain why a young family with two kids have to pay council tax, yet! And in the same road, a Landlord with six student tenants pays nothing, yet uses all the benefits and services paid for by the young couple. Doesn’t seem to sit very well with your fairer society to me.

What’s your mantra! For the many! It just seems a little incomplete to me, let me think! Emm, err. I have it!!!

For the Many ..........paid for by the few!

No! No you don’t have to thank me, pleased to help!

Okay well the Police stations, magistrates Court and buildings and council offices are government or council owned buildings that have not been closed down due to a lack of footfall in the town centre so are completely irrelavent to the point I am making. RBS closed down literally 2 weeks ago due to nationwide change in banking habits. I'm highly confident the unit will be used again in no time at all, to complain after 2 weeks that it is empty would just be absurd. The post office closed down, again due to a national decision,( be thankful the town still has a post office BTW, many no longer do) but is currently being converted into student accomodation so is not an empty unit. You've complained many times about landlords taking houses from families in the residential areas, now you are complaining when they instead focus on converting town centre facilities for use, clearly helping one of your main frustrations!
In terms of empty retail units in the TOWN CENTRE, I still can only think of the former Mind shop, the shop opposite poundstretcher, the arts shop on Burscough Street and the former co-op travel on Moorgate (which is currently being converted). That is a fantastic number compared to the vast majority of town centres in the country. You only have to walk down Lord Street in Southport to see that for yourself.
Students who complete degrees are likely to go on to higher earning jobs in the future due to their qualifications and will pay a greater figure in income tax, have a greater chance of buying or renting a larger property thus increasing the likelihood of paying a greater figure in council tax as well as other forms of taxation. We as a society can support our young people through their education for a much greater reward in the future. Or would you prefer generations of job seekers and income support applicants? Hardly giving back to their communities there.
The town centre is pretty much full. Yes it may be coffee shops, bars and charity shops but all are busy, all are prosperous and all are paying their way and contributing to the local community.
Edge Hill is here to stay, you are living in a University market town. The students spend their money in our shops and in our bars. They use our banks, they use our public transport, they use our taxis, they use restaurants and fast food facilities. They are keeping these places open and the town centre is full of open units because of it. National brands like The Works are opening up in our town centre because it is worth doing. I stand by what I say, you are incapable of seeing any of these true benefits, because over the years you have seen your town change into something you don't like and that hatred is blinding you and taking control of your views. I understand you've had issues with students over the years Mr Reeves and I genuinly am sorry for that (speaking as a former EHU student myself) but open your eyes and see what EHU actually brings to this town.

well i guess that answers that question
im glad someone has the thought to see the good in the town instead of slagging it off as usual
people in this town work hard to run the buisnesses but all you get is people moaning
i get the brunt of this being a bar owner in the town but if you took the students away it wouldnt be viable and i know this as i have 2 bars one of which isnt a student bar and is aimed at the over 25 year old market and is quiet through the week so i can safely say students do keep the town going
well donr for seeing the positives in the town