December 1999:
The Three Horseshoes Mall Was Re-Opened In The Pouring Rain To The Music Of Warminster Brass Band Accompanied By A Manic Clown And Batman & Robin. Does It Herald The Beginning Of Warminster’s Shopping Renaissance?
As we approach the much-heralded but over-hyped Millennium, it is appropriate that shopping facilities in Warminster fall under the spotlight. Of course, the development of the Three Horseshoes Mall (as we knew it) has brought the issue into sharp focus and also presented the town with a major opportunity to capitalise on almost one million pounds worth of investment in the complex.
The turnover of shops throughout the town in recent months indicates that Warminster is in a state of continuous transition. Like many similar traditional rural towns across the land, Warminster is gradually finding a new identity. Quite apart from the decline in the farming industry and cutbacks to the military presence in the town, the past twenty years have also witnessed the disappearance of numerous established businesses who contributed enormously to the town’s economy and vitality.
Warminster, like everywhere else, has been forced to adapt to the demands of a more sophisticated consumer and the recent changes in the High Street suggest that this evolution is at an advanced stage. Tertiary products such as mobile phones, PC’s and financial services have an increasingly dominant presence in our town at the expense of the traditional businesses of yesteryear. It will, of course, take time for these new businesses to establish themselves and become instantly recognisable as Waylen’s or Warminster Fish & Fruit.
Opinions about the newly-named Three Horseshoes Walk seem divided. Many lament the passing of the old Mall and, in particular, the name. Some have commented on the puddles that form on the new cobbles during heavy rain, or mentioned the red paint used on the roof supports is too garish; the lone fir tree that had to be removed is discussed as if it was a rarity and was on a par with the Elgin Marbles and, all of a sudden, even the old benches (which will be replaced) are “greatly missed”.
Conversely, others celebrate the fact that Redleaf Shopping Centres have invested so heavily in a part of the town that never fully recovered from Safeway’s move to Weymouth Street. Despite the presence of excellent businesses such as Insport, Iceland, The Gorge and Mountstevens, to name but four, the Mall has been in need of serious investment for some time. Many of the flats above the shops had fallen into disrepair and the overall appearance of the place had become a little shabby.
Clearly, something had to be done.
Unquestionably, Redleaf purchased the site for commercial reason and rumours abound that both commercial and domestic rents will duly increase. This will inevitably be unpopular with those trading or living in the complex, but even they will be the first to admit that a more aesthetic environment should substantially improve the business climate and living conditions.
One acknowledges that change is not always met with universal approval and many will take time to adjust to the Three Horseshoes Walk. Senior people from Warminster will no doubt recall similar rumblings of discontent when the Mall was first built only for it to become the epicentre of Warminster’s retail trade.
Apart from the Three Horseshoes Walk, Warminster has many other shopping areas that are adapting to the requirements of an ever-increasing populous. Chinn’s Court, George Street, the Cornmarket and Silver Street are all rapidly establishing themselves despite the chaos caused by roadworks and other developments during the past year. Despite the congestion, traffic lights and scaffold towers, many businesses have still managed to grow even the road through the town has taken on the appearance of the M25 at times.
New businesses now have the opportunity to follow the example of successful ventures such as Cristettes, Mimmo’s or Dataplus to name but three. The development of the Three Horseshoes Walk will hopefully act as a further spur to the town’s shopping community and should be embraced as such.
The Walk is already encouraging big-name stores to express an interest in moving to Warminster which should only benefit all those trading in the town. Confidence is one of the most crucial factors to any business and the arrival of one or two chain stores would send the clearest message that Warminster is a place where retail can thrive.
Warminster should always endeavour to preserve its unique character and our many excellent shops, pubs and restaurants do ensure a pleasant welcome to visitors. However, it cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that many independent shops are no longer with us and have had to be replaced. Warminster has its fair share of charity shops who do an admirable job but the town needs long-term businesses that are prepared to make an active contribution to the town’s facilities.
Warminster’s heritage, architecture and relaxed ambience combine to provide a wonderful backdrop to anyone wandering up the High Street. The various markets held on Fridays and the services provided by the Library, Dewey House and Tourist Information office, not to mention the free parking, ensure that the centre of Warminster has much to offer.
The development of the Three Horseshoes Walk should only entice even more people to the area and reward those traders who have endured almost six months of disruption. Many shoppers have obviously been put off by the dust, noise and inconvenience caused by the work both in the Mall and elsewhere, but, “the silence is now deafening and all is forgiven” commented one Three Horseshoes trader.
This article has only scratched the surface of the issues surrounding Warminster’s shopping facilities. It is merely intended as a brief summary highlighting one or two of the issues that local traders have faced during a difficult twelve months. However, indications for the future are extremely positive and new businesses are appearing up and down the High Street. The aforementioned scaffold towers also suggest that Warminster is undergoing something of a makeover with aesthetic improvements being made to ‘Carter’s Corner’, The Athenaeum, and even the Obelisk monument in Silver Street.
With the Christmas lights adding that extra special touch, Warminster is a lovely place to do a few hours shopping and one hopes that the New Year brings with it an upturn in the fortunes of all our traders.
Andrew Pinnell and Beatrice Adie.
Warminster Town Voice magazine, December 1999.