SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Did anyone else see this article tucked away in the back of yesterday mornings YEP?http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/f ... ssentially a critique of what's gone wrong at Clarence Dock, as apparently virtually all the shops that were there when the site opened have since moved out. Even Starbucks have pulled out, although the report suggests that Tesco is doing well.Whilst there are consistent high occupancy figures for the many apartments on site, the shopping experience has sadly never materialised, even with the help of Gok Wan. Much vaunted stores like Armani never appeared which won't have helped with the target audience either.I would have thought the causes were fairly self evident? It's too far out of the city centre for the vast majority of shoppers to visit on foot and the only car park on site charges a fortune and has been reported to have draconian enforcement of charges and penalties. There is virtually no on street parking surrounding the site and what there is in monopolised by the residents who don't have parking on site or who chose not to pay for it. The article suggests that the council are starting to remove the yellow lines on surrounding streets now, but surely any additional places will just be snaffled up by the dock side dwellers?I seem to recall that there was a dedicated bus service to and from Clarence Dock from the bus station when it first opened, but I don't know if that still runs? Besides, are the sort of shoppers they were aiming at really going to get a bus?

There used to be a bus for the students at Clarence Dock, not sure if it still runs cos I havent seen it in a while.

Clarence Dock bus was the 28 and it stopped about a year ago. When Starbucks closed there was no real reason to be there. So why don't LCC build stuff we all use. A Post Office, a pub or even a community hall. Too much like thinking that. The place is also creepy after dark with area's of darkness and all that water to fall in. Leave it to students..

Loiner1960 wrote: Clarence Dock bus was the 28 and it stopped about a year ago. When Starbucks closed there was no real reason to be there. So why don't LCC build stuff we all use. A Post Office, a pub or even a community hall. Too much like thinking that. The place is also creepy after dark with area's of darkness and all that water to fall in. Leave it to students.. Its not really the councils responsibility as its a private development.The dock is almost an island,surrounded by a busy road,a river an swathes of old empty factories and demolition sites.You have to take your hat off to the whole idea,after all it was a dump for years,but a quick chat with a Loiner or two would have tipped them the wink.The only way i can see Clarence Dock actually becoming something like a big attractor of shoppers is if the Tetleys site(hallowed be thy name) is developed in such a way as to attract a huge amount of visitors and Clarence Dock may then get a few of the visitors from there.All pie in the sky if you ask me,but its the only way i can see it possibly living up to somewhere near its aspirations.One other point,it is very windy in there,the buildings have created a wind tunnel effect.

Re the parking in the surounding area all they have to do is put a time limit on.But as with all parking rates in Leeds it will cost an arm and a leg to park this will cause a knock on effect and put people off going.This is one of the reasons i will not take my car to the city center i wonder how many other people feel the same. I can park in Morley for nothing or Bradford. Dewsbury.Wakefield to name a few for a lot less than Leeds.The council should wake up and smell the coffee.    

Loiner1960 wrote: Clarence Dock bus was the 28 and it stopped about a year ago. . The 28 service from Adel and Headingley to Leeds and Clarence Dock still runs all day Monday to Saturday until around 1900 hours

It's a pity really. I was there during the Summer and had a fabulous meal in Café Aagrah and at a very reasonable price. On a lovely day the setting of Clarence Dock is really good.

BLAKEY wrote: Loiner1960 wrote: Clarence Dock bus was the 28 and it stopped about a year ago. . The 28 service from Adel and Headingley to Leeds and Clarence Dock still runs all day Monday to Saturday until around 1900 hours Beat me to it Blakey. I would have confirmed that if reading to the end of the thread had not covered it. It is however a route which was affected by Worst's decision to make much less use of the bus station and also unless you live on the Otley Road (28 route) its hardly worth transferring to the 28 not much more than a couple of stops (albeit long ones) away from the terminus. there are a couple of other through Worst services that pass close by on their way to Hunslet District Centre and Middleton/Belle Isle but the majorityof other services are Arrivas for Wakefield/Pontefract that also start at the bus station or Rothwell and again through Wakefield that while starting in city square also pass the bus station.As already pointed out its too out of town to not rely on public transport or private parking and both are limited courtesy of cost and/or convenience

PC - Dublin wrote: It's a pity really. I was there during the Summer and had a fabulous meal in Café Aagrah and at a very reasonable price. On a lovely day the setting of Clarence Dock is really good. Agree with you there, PC. Admittedly it's a bit off the beaten track if you're trying to combine it with shopping right in the city centre, but we've been there a few times when just walking along the canal/riverside (parked in 'Holbeck urban village' and taken in Granary Wharf along the way) - to me, the fact that it's usually really quiet is part of its appeal!

This is a link to a report today in the YEP website on the proposed development of Clarence Dock http://tinyurl.com/cgpzwdtIn the report it states that if the propsals go ahead Clarence Dock will be renamed New Dock (said too be its original name).