Should Windrush Square be renamed Ritzy Square?
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gaijingirl
Well-Known Member
I did get slightly peeved the other day at the lack of access to the slopes down to the pedestrian crossing now that they "own" so much of the square (when pushing a pram) - it's a bit of a silly thing to get annoyed about but I was mildly irritated for a while.
miss minnie
Well-Known Member
Can't believe how cheaply the council rent our space to this mob.
It might not be quite so irritating if this cheap space was being shared by some of the smaller traders in Brixton. I wouldn't mind seeing something resembling a summer market with a choice of stalls selling food/drink, clothes/jewelry, postcards or such.
The Ritzy presence is just so bland and corporate.
It might not be quite so irritating if this cheap space was being shared by some of the smaller traders in Brixton. I wouldn't mind seeing something resembling a summer market with a choice of stalls selling food/drink, clothes/jewelry, postcards or such.
The Ritzy presence is just so bland and corporate.
miss minnie
Well-Known Member
Btw, it should be 'City Screen Square', it might tout itself as our old favourite Ritzy but its all just smoke and mirrors.
TruXta
tired
Nail on fucking head.
gaijingirl
Well-Known Member
A summer market would be lovely!
snowy_again
Slush
And probably getting their loyal customers in before the BCA opens its cafe less than fifty yards away...
TruXta
tired
Not good ones anyway.
Kanda
Diving wanker
TruXta
tired
Wouldn't know. I don't get the idea of 'going out' for coffee...
And that's a peculiarly British trait, albeit one that is slowly eroding. You have the best pubs in the world, but you cannot get your heads around cafes. There are of course honourable exceptions. Note I'm not talking about greasy spoons here.
editor
hiraethified
If you work from home, it's a way of maintaining sanity and getting to chat to other sanity-concerned freelancers.Wouldn't know. I don't get the idea of 'going out' for coffee...
Kanda
Diving wanker
Crispy
The following psytrance is baṉned: All
Black Cultural Archives - they're refurbishing and extending Raleigh Hall at the southeast corner of the square. Thread: http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/threads/258163-New-home-for-Black-Cultural-Archives-Raleigh-Hall
TruXta
tired
Oh cool! For my shame I've yet to be inside the library....
Rushy
basically a scrotum
My understanding is that the space wasn't offered up to The Ritzy. They approached Lambeth and made them an offer which was accepted. Obviously Ritzy are in a better position to take advantage of the square than other businesses but that on its own shouldn't preclude them from being allowed to do so.
Similarly, a business group approached the council about setting up the small market outside KFC a couple of years back. Anyone could have asked to do this but the group that did it got the pitch. Then local businesses complained that it was unfair competition and the licence was withdrawn. (Not sure if there wasn't more to it than that).
If businesses want to use the spaces I guess they should put forward a proposal. If you don't ask...
Similarly, a business group approached the council about setting up the small market outside KFC a couple of years back. Anyone could have asked to do this but the group that did it got the pitch. Then local businesses complained that it was unfair competition and the licence was withdrawn. (Not sure if there wasn't more to it than that).
If businesses want to use the spaces I guess they should put forward a proposal. If you don't ask...
bluestreak
HomosexualityIsStalin’sAtomBombtoDestroyAmerica
No matter what they do it will always be Bovril Square to me.
miss minnie
Well-Known Member
Recently there was a link posted to a document outlining the pricing structure for seats in the square which implied that perhaps a policy exists.
Even if someone asks/proposes it shouldn't mean that the council just give to they that ask. Something like the commercialisation of a very expensive public square should have had at least a little consultation attached to it. What if McDonald's had asked first?
miss minnie
Well-Known Member
Rushy
basically a scrotum
I guess if the new square was directly outside McD's they might have been allowed to although I know that not all offers are accepted. I wonder what they'd do? Personally I'd not like that. I was more responding to the suggestion that smaller businesses should be allowed some of the space. Maybe they would be if they made a viable proposal - like the markets I referred to. IIRC the outline price structure was not for the square per se but for allowing use of Lambeth owned outside space in general, e.g. SW9 bar maybe, or San Marino's. (It may be that in those particular cases they own the outside space - I'm not entirely sure - but there will be other instances where the council let neighbouring businesses use parts of the street).
IMO it would be a shame if Ritzy (or whosoever happened to be adjacent to the square) was not allowed to come to an arrangement to serve in it. Although I agree with Ed's comments that it is a pretty imposing setup.
Rushy
basically a scrotum
editor
hiraethified
I don't recall any of the proposals for Windrush Square featuring a vast chunk of the area being taken over by a private company.
As it is, vast pots of public money appear to have just funded a nice al fresco new dining/cafe area for the Ritzy.
Rushy
basically a scrotum
Ritzy has certainly benefited from it. There was always an express intention to allow forms of private economic activity on parts of the site in the form of a coffee shop and also markets. I agree that this particular use was not discussed.
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