Iceland to return to High Wycombe
6:21pm Wednesday 25th November 2009 in
SUPERMARKET chain Iceland will open a new store in place of the historic Woolworths site in High Wycombe - five years after it was forced out of the town by Eden.
Iceland submitted a planning application to move into one half of the historic Red Lion House in the High Street, which once played home to Woolies, to Wycombe District Council last Wednesday.
The council say they are mulling over the application but Iceland told the Bucks Free Press today that it is confident a new store will open, with March 18, 2010 given as the hopeful launch date.
The supermarket chain was driven out of its Desborough Road base in 2005 to make room for the Eden shopping centre redevelopment.
WDC also confirmed it has approved a planning application from Poundworld for the other side of the former Woolies site – paving the way for the chain to move in.
Devonshire Metro Ltd, the company that owns Red Lion House, was given the go ahead by the council to divide the existing property into two separate retail units last month.
The news comes hot on the heels of the opening of lingerie retailer Ann Summers in Eden today.
Cosmetics giant Lush hopes to have its new Eden store open in time for Christmas, while children's music and learning centre, Gymboree, also announced today that it expects to move into the shopping centre in the new year.
Budget supermarket chain Lidl will hold a public open day at the Green Street Youth and Community Centre in Desborough Street between 3-6pm on Wednesday, December 2.
The company will be sampling products and showcasing plans for a proposed 'neighbourhood food store' in Desborough Road before deciding on whether to submit a planning application to the council.
Town centre manager Melanie Williams, from the High Wycombe Town Centre Partnership, said: “This is brilliant news.
"It was always going to take some time before the units started to fill up, but it's great news for the town.”
Comments(36)
sportsturf
says...
7:31pm Wed 25 Nov 09
SDJones
says...
7:35pm Wed 25 Nov 09
dooza
says...
7:42pm Wed 25 Nov 09
If you combined the ground floor and first floor you could have an amazing venue, for theatre or music or any kind of performance. Its ideal.
sportsturf
says...
8:04pm Wed 25 Nov 09
bexs60
says...
8:28pm Wed 25 Nov 09
bexs60
says...
8:29pm Wed 25 Nov 09
Plus ça change...
says...
8:32pm Wed 25 Nov 09
Just fill Wycombe up.
One of everything please.
demoness
says...
8:35pm Wed 25 Nov 09
SDJones wrote:what?????????
thats great some good names moving into wycombe at last
chris740
says...
9:29pm Wed 25 Nov 09
get the high street back on it's feet
am i the only one
says...
9:51pm Wed 25 Nov 09
iworld
says...
12:04am Thu 26 Nov 09
Eden can remain the premium sector of town and a cash cow for the council - but more can be done!
I am sure the high street will return - otherwise we can rename it low street.
Lorrainej
says...
7:54am Thu 26 Nov 09
demoness wrote:My thoughts exactly
SDJones wrote: thats great some good names moving into wycombe at lastwhat?????????
demoness
says...
8:45am Thu 26 Nov 09
Lorrainej wrote:I once made the mistake of buying food there for my daughter's 18th birthday party as it was cheap and I was catering for loads.
demoness wrote:My thoughts exactlySDJones wrote: thats great some good names moving into wycombe at lastwhat?????????
NEVER again - ever. Nasty cheap food. I actually DO care what I put iin my family's stomach which is why this Mum never goes to Iceland.
I wouldn't go there anyway on principle as the advert is sexist and patronising in the extreme.
Horrible place but that's fine,the masses can go to Iceland and the poundstretchers. Me - I'll stick to Eden thank you.
lopez78
says...
8:47am Thu 26 Nov 09
Lorrainej
says...
8:49am Thu 26 Nov 09
demoness wrote:Yes Iceland stuff is a bit grusome, went there about 6 years ago in Amersham, If I remeber coffee was a good price, but then you buy some of the other stuff, I can't see how its cheaper, when either some of it is inedible or you have to bin the whole lot. Not been to Lidl or Aldi, what are they like.
Lorrainej wrote:I once made the mistake of buying food there for my daughter's 18th birthday party as it was cheap and I was catering for loads. NEVER again - ever. Nasty cheap food. I actually DO care what I put iin my family's stomach which is why this Mum never goes to Iceland. I wouldn't go there anyway on principle as the advert is sexist and patronising in the extreme. Horrible place but that's fine,the masses can go to Iceland and the poundstretchers. Me - I'll stick to Eden thank you.demoness wrote:My thoughts exactlySDJones wrote: thats great some good names moving into wycombe at lastwhat?????????
lopez78
says...
8:52am Thu 26 Nov 09
Steve Totteridge Hill
says...
9:08am Thu 26 Nov 09
Lorrainej
says...
9:11am Thu 26 Nov 09
Steve Totteridge Hill wrote:Doh!
But will they pay back all the money our esteemed council invested in their banks...or is that a different Iceland??? ;-)
Anita21072
says...
9:21am Thu 26 Nov 09
demoness
says...
9:51am Thu 26 Nov 09
Anita21072 wrote:So it doesn't bother you that those chickens most probably were sourced from abroad, stuffed full of antibiotics and other nasties and treated in appalling conditions?
Finally an iceland back. When ours closed I had to start using Marlow, Then they shut that down so I had to start using Amersham and Maidenhead. I think they offer a great selection and the food has certainly improved for example a box of 4 garlic and herb breadcrumb chicken breasts is only a£1 and my family love them and think they taste better than the leading brands
Ironically cheap food always comes at a price - well sorry it is a price that morally I am not prepared to pay.
Red Fred
says...
11:05am Thu 26 Nov 09
As for chickens and the conditions they are reared in, yes, it is a concern, but then isn't it the same for anywhere that sells chickens ?
cressexpert
says...
12:29pm Thu 26 Nov 09
Kadoogan
says...
1:04pm Thu 26 Nov 09
What a complete waste of time the High Street and Wycombe in general is becoming. Eden is OK but to really enjoy it you seem to need to be a female with a load of disposable income for clothes and shoes.
I can't think of another high street in a similar sized town that has so little to recommend it.
J B Blackett
says...
2:00pm Thu 26 Nov 09
Kadoogan wrote:I hate to think you may be correct, Kadoogan and Wycombe is not alone in this regard
The Woolworths site would have made for a great indoor market, or a live music venue (the Swan only seems to cater for tribute acts or bands that were big in the 60's), but we end up with Iceland and another pound shop?
What a complete waste of time the High Street and Wycombe in general is becoming. Eden is OK but to really enjoy it you seem to need to be a female with a load of disposable income for clothes and shoes.
I can't think of another high street in a similar sized town that has so little to recommend it.
.
It seems to be part of a long-term trend. The 'High Street' loses hotels , banks, well-known chainstores , bakers etc and gets more and more pound shops and their ilk , charity shops , Argos , bookies , Iceland (Big Food Group) , fast food outlets etc.
.
It's all part of a trend of the centre of gravity (ie shopping / entertainment ) being displaced westward as part of a gradual historical shift. Local history books show that Easton St was once a thriving commercial area. Now virtually defunct for shopping.
.
You can not, sadly , stop the clock , even less reverse it , even if some people are upset by the change. It's all driven by demographics and commercial/business interests.
.
Regards
DeepThinker
says...
2:58pm Thu 26 Nov 09
-
Retailers are just like children before Christmas. Kids see a toy advertised on the TV, or hear their friends talk about getting something, and they must have it for Christmas. They don't want to "miss out".
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Retailers see a new developement and they must get in their. They don't want to "miss out".
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Unfortunately that means that in Wycombe new shops, and some existing ones, move into the Eden Centre. Frogmoor, High Street, White Hart Street, Easton Street, Amersham Hill below the station, etc, continue to degenerate.
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It is called "progress" - just like it was called "progress" when The Octagon was built in the 60s, and the degeneration of shopping streets to the east started.
demoness
says...
8:39am Fri 27 Nov 09
Red Fred wrote:Hi fred - yes absolutely. Which is why I rarely but chicken and when I do, it is free range organic. :)
Well I for one would like to welcome them back to the town and the jobs they will create. The only real downside I can see to the store on the High St has been identified already as weight of shopping and parking facilities. As for chickens and the conditions they are reared in, yes, it is a concern, but then isn't it the same for anywhere that sells chickens ?
frankbutcher
says...
9:34am Fri 27 Nov 09
demoness wrote:so what. chickens don't need en suite bathrooms & a conservatory. think about the people that don't have the money for m&s simply food. some people have to look for the most affordable food & how the chicken was reared is irrelevant, feeding the family is key. iceland is good for that, it offers value for money. if the mrs wants to shop there she is more than welcome, as long as my dinner is on the table when i get in from work & it isn't burnt....
Anita21072 wrote: Finally an iceland back. When ours closed I had to start using Marlow, Then they shut that down so I had to start using Amersham and Maidenhead. I think they offer a great selection and the food has certainly improved for example a box of 4 garlic and herb breadcrumb chicken breasts is only a£1 and my family love them and think they taste better than the leading brandsSo it doesn't bother you that those chickens most probably were sourced from abroad, stuffed full of antibiotics and other nasties and treated in appalling conditions? Ironically cheap food always comes at a price - well sorry it is a price that morally I am not prepared to pay.
--------------------
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demoness
says...
10:27am Fri 27 Nov 09
frankbutcher wrote:It isn't irrelevant - when you think of what is stuffed down the chicken's neck... hormones, anti biotics, all sorts of nasties.
demoness wrote:so what. chickens don't need en suite bathrooms & a conservatory. think about the people that don't have the money for m&s simply food. some people have to look for the most affordable food & how the chicken was reared is irrelevant, feeding the family is key. iceland is good for that, it offers value for money. if the mrs wants to shop there she is more than welcome, as long as my dinner is on the table when i get in from work & it isn't burnt.... -------------------- ------------Anita21072 wrote: Finally an iceland back. When ours closed I had to start using Marlow, Then they shut that down so I had to start using Amersham and Maidenhead. I think they offer a great selection and the food has certainly improved for example a box of 4 garlic and herb breadcrumb chicken breasts is only a£1 and my family love them and think they taste better than the leading brandsSo it doesn't bother you that those chickens most probably were sourced from abroad, stuffed full of antibiotics and other nasties and treated in appalling conditions? Ironically cheap food always comes at a price - well sorry it is a price that morally I am not prepared to pay.
You don't need to have loads of money to eat healthily or ethically. You just need to be able to cook. Sadly most people can't be bothered to do that nowadays hence the success of revolting places like Iceland and the reason why obesity is on the up in our kids.
curiouser and curiouser
says...
10:31am Fri 27 Nov 09
Steve Totteridge Hill wrote::) Very good, Steve!
But will they pay back all the money our esteemed council invested in their banks...or is that a different Iceland??? ;-)
curiouser and curiouser
says...
10:40am Fri 27 Nov 09
frankbutcher
says...
10:51am Fri 27 Nov 09
demoness wrote:i agree, to eat healthily you do not need to spend extra but ethical eating is certainly more expensive. remember, although you do not need 'loads of money', people do have to budget & as much as they would like to buy the ethical produce, cost does come into it. £5 to somebody with few money worries is a whole lot more to someone on a budget, especially when the food tastes pretty much the same... chickens are chickens, as long as they aren't fed excrement or human/animal remains then i don't really care... watch out for doner kebab meat though, that is some messed up stuff....
frankbutcher wrote:It isn't irrelevant - when you think of what is stuffed down the chicken's neck... hormones, anti biotics, all sorts of nasties. You don't need to have loads of money to eat healthily or ethically. You just need to be able to cook. Sadly most people can't be bothered to do that nowadays hence the success of revolting places like Iceland and the reason why obesity is on the up in our kids.demoness wrote:so what. chickens don't need en suite bathrooms & a conservatory. think about the people that don't have the money for m&s simply food. some people have to look for the most affordable food & how the chicken was reared is irrelevant, feeding the family is key. iceland is good for that, it offers value for money. if the mrs wants to shop there she is more than welcome, as long as my dinner is on the table when i get in from work & it isn't burnt.... -------------------- ------------Anita21072 wrote: Finally an iceland back. When ours closed I had to start using Marlow, Then they shut that down so I had to start using Amersham and Maidenhead. I think they offer a great selection and the food has certainly improved for example a box of 4 garlic and herb breadcrumb chicken breasts is only a£1 and my family love them and think they taste better than the leading brandsSo it doesn't bother you that those chickens most probably were sourced from abroad, stuffed full of antibiotics and other nasties and treated in appalling conditions? Ironically cheap food always comes at a price - well sorry it is a price that morally I am not prepared to pay.
Gailxx
says...
2:08pm Fri 27 Nov 09
It is good for people without transport, because of their deliveries etc. so I, for one, will use them. You can still buy potatoes, eggs, cheese, bottles of soft drinks etc. etc. (all heavy goods the same as other stores) and it will be delivered!! ie. the kelloggs cereals, whiska's cat food, Coca Kola are all the same wherever you shop!
I am really looking forward to it opening and it will also make the high street more interesting than the odd shop it has now.
Red Fred
says...
2:12pm Fri 27 Nov 09
demoness wrote:And while I totally agree, Smiley about ethical and sustainable food sourcing, some people just can't afford it and have to feed a family on a budget. It's all just about choice and variety really. Having looked at them a bit more closely, they do have policies against commercial whaling and don't source, for example, prawns from Norway. Also I remember them trading many years ago on the fact that their foods were non GM, so maybe they are not all bad eh?
Red Fred wrote: Well I for one would like to welcome them back to the town and the jobs they will create. The only real downside I can see to the store on the High St has been identified already as weight of shopping and parking facilities. As for chickens and the conditions they are reared in, yes, it is a concern, but then isn't it the same for anywhere that sells chickens ?Hi fred - yes absolutely. Which is why I rarely but chicken and when I do, it is free range organic. :)
Where I do have a problem is when people complain about so called processed foods at well established supermarkets and then buy God only knows what from a kebab van! Unbelievably some are actually sober when they do.
clairabella
says...
10:27am Sat 28 Nov 09
We are a local family run independant gift shop
We wanted to bring something differrent to town.
Local arts and crafts also available.
I would love to know what you think also what else would you like to see in town
deecee01
says...
2:28pm Sat 28 Nov 09
Lorrainej wrote:Aldi and Lidl sell very good quality food, so I am looking forward to Lidl hopefully coming to Wycombe, would rather have a Lidl than Iceland, but can see that Iceland will appeal to some people and the location on the High Street would also appeal to Iceland shoppers. Can see a demand for those pull along shopping trolleys for people to lug their Iceland shopping back to the bus station or car parks!
demoness wrote:Yes Iceland stuff is a bit grusome, went there about 6 years ago in Amersham, If I remeber coffee was a good price, but then you buy some of the other stuff, I can't see how its cheaper, when either some of it is inedible or you have to bin the whole lot. Not been to Lidl or Aldi, what are they like.
Lorrainej wrote:I once made the mistake of buying food there for my daughter's 18th birthday party as it was cheap and I was catering for loads. NEVER again - ever. Nasty cheap food. I actually DO care what I put iin my family's stomach which is why this Mum never goes to Iceland. I wouldn't go there anyway on principle as the advert is sexist and patronising in the extreme. Horrible place but that's fine,the masses can go to Iceland and the poundstretchers. Me - I'll stick to Eden thank you.demoness wrote:My thoughts exactlySDJones wrote: thats great some good names moving into wycombe at lastwhat?????????
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ferrellcat says...
7:02pm Wed 25 Nov 09