Ware and Retail
Ware is a busy commercial town and proud of its heritage. Many of the older buildings are listed, and the town is designated a centre of 'outstanding archaeological and historical interest'. In recent
years, Ware has begun to attract tourists and guided tours of the town centre are held on Sundays in the summer months. There are also regular Summer band concerts in the Priory grounds, as well as the opening of the Museum on Saturdays and Sundays. However, Ware does not live in the past. As well as the bigger industries, many small businesses thrive through the waggonways and above shops in the High Street. There are plentiful restaurants and pubs (for which Ware has always been famous). The Ware Centre of Hertford Regional College brings hosts of students to the town, and the High Street is always busy, particularly on Tuesday, which is Market Day.
(Quoted from Wareonline)
Ware High Street, Baldock Street and Amwell Street are busy, varied shopping experiences which has taken generations to develop, these shopping areas will be rapidly destroyed if Asda get their way.
The current Centre of Town Tesco store (20,000 sq ft), is well positioned to attract shoppers into the town to make 'linked' shopping trips - that is they will park up in Tesco's car park and wander into town to the local shops and then head into Tesco's to do the remainder of their shop. This benefits the local businesses and community by drawing people into the town centre.
In addition the significant GSK lunchtime trade is essential to the Town's vitality and anything which will deter these lunchtime shoppers from walking into town will have a detrimental impact on it.
The Edge of Town development proposed by Asda for their 28,000 sq ft (40% bigger than Tesco's in Ware) store will simply starve the town of any trade it currently gets. Being an out of town store, ASDA will draw people away from the town centre. The design of the store with its underground car park and glass travelator will cocoon shoppers and prevent them from wandering into the town centre. Being 500m from the High Street this will also deter people from walking into town.
No matter how ASDA dress it up this development will not be to the benefit of Ware or its Businesses or Residents. Asda said they will take at least 40% or £4 million trade from Tesco. That WILL mean less trips into the town centre and it WILL mean less money coming into the shops along the High Street.