Starting with the empty ones first. It doesn’t have to be ELC to lead this, just a creative coalition of the willing who could – with a suitable preferably local sponsor – pull off something really imaginative. Below is what Bushmills has been doing in Co. Antrim, hiring artists to create fake shop fronts, which naturally has been picked up by the chattering classes and attracted a few tourists to boot. Why can we not do something similar?
But I don’t mean fill up a shop window with childish pictures masquerading as art or swamping us with pictures of the same ankle biters, which at least one local newspaper annoyingly peddles almost weekly now.
Allow pop up shops to setup to test a new product or business model, or perhaps extend the buzz from a neighbouring town (we could reciprocate) or bring the out of town into the centre (Knowes, Belhaven, The Store, Thistly Cross etc). But no car booters, though these could be welcomed to a suitable location at regular intervals.
Dunbar is a Conservation Area, so let us make more of this designation, instead of seeing it as a constraint.
Lets start by clamping down on unsightly For Sale signs – especially the ones that stay up for years and years, or insist that they be a lot more discrete.
Remove the illegal satellite dishes that deface our historic buildings and signal to all that Dunbar is the new Wild West and anything is permissable in the public realm (Ed. you mean East surely?). This should be communicated publically: “Crack down on illegal dishes promised by Council. Avoid the bill and get yours removed before the council does …” sort of line.
Some shop owners are struggling to keep their displays fresh, so we should develop a scheme to provide high quality help and support – or network with local window dressers to come up with more effective displays. Shop doctor plus. Don’t confuse the customer with a guddle of stuff in the shop window, keep it absolutely clear and change it regularly. There are few shop owners who are pretty good at this, but if the skills and expertise of those who knew what they were doing were made available to others – we would would all benefit.
I have no problem with shop keepers expanding safely onto the pavement or using A boards, but the offering must be pedestrian safe and be of a higher standard and quality. Dirty old boxes filled with junk and lousy dog beds simply do don’t cut it and more than cancel out the efforts that others are making. Make plastic boards illegal – they suck. Get a someone with a nice hand to draft your offers on the A board (remember to keep them simple) and use permanent inks.
Clean up shop fronts and repaint in an appropriate palette. ELC should devise a suitable palette and insist on it. It is done elsewhere where towns and villages wish to capitalise on the heritage value of their place. If we don’t, it signals that we do not care. Compared to the costs of winter illuminations, which again pander to the aesthetic of sub 5 year olds, this would have a year round impact. Illuminations last only a few weeks – and are an increasing hazard, so I believe this would be money better spent on the permanent infrastructure of our High Street.
And whilst we are at it lets talk to the dog owners who let their poodles sprinkle everywhere, including our shop fronts, shop thresholds, and doors into our common stairs. Its not nice and pretty off putting whether fresh or stale.
All shop keepers should be visibly hosing down the pavements in front of their shops, especially when we don’t get rain. This would remove guano from gulls, dog poo, fizzy drink and everything else that gets sprayed on the street as if it were an open sewer. ELC could lead the way by ensuring bus stops are squeaky clean and washed down regularly, not just 4 times a year.
Here’s some nice shop fronts from all around the world for inspiration, in case you think this is too hard: