Frustration in Dartford at Bluewater expansion plans

2:00pm Sunday 12th August 2012 in News By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter

Bluewater West Village Bluewater West Village

BUSINESS owners and shop workers in Dartford have vented their frustration to News Shopper at Bluewater shopping centre's expansion plans.

As reported in last week's paper the centre's owners Lend Lease are consulting on proposals to create up to 1,500 jobs by expanding existing retail and catering space at the complex by 20 per cent.

But this hasn't gone down well in Dartford town centre as shops and businesses fight for trade in tough times for the highstreet.

"Bluewater's just a different animal," said David Drazny, 38, co-owner of Squires menswear on Spital Street. "We can't compete with them," he added.

"There's nothing in Dartford. All we seem to be attracting is little pound shops. All towns are suffering really." 

It was a similar story in Dartford's Priory shopping centre. Keely O'Reilly, 42, from Welling has worked on the National Lottery stand for two and a half years.

"Without a doubt it will take trade from Dartford," she said. "I don't think it will have a positive impact on the place at all." 

Daniel Ansell runs Priory Flowers and is equally unhappy about the plans. "It's a joke, it's not great for us retailers," he said. "In Dartford all it is is 99p shops and pound shops."

But at Bluewater even those who live in Dartford welcomed news of the expansion.

"Bluewater's already bad for Dartford," said Lysette Cook, 28, who is from the town but works as an assistant manager at the Leon fast food outlet.

"It's a completely different shopping experience anyway," she added.

Comments(44)

jacks60 says...
5:37pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Are we ever going to get Tesco in Dartford and, if so, what's the hold up now?

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Dr Lester Piggott says...
5:58pm Sun 12 Aug 12

I think you call it progress.
Who really wants to walk around Dartford mingling with chav tarts with snotty nosed kids, drunks, and wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks underwear.

Bluewater for me I'm glad to say.

Report this post »

mouthalmighty says...
9:54pm Sun 12 Aug 12

I would much rather wander around Dartford. Bluewater is soul less. Shop keepers of Dartford have faith and confidence snd keep trying.

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Dr Lester Piggott says...
10:41pm Sun 12 Aug 12

Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then.

Bluewater is much more lets just say up market.

Report this post »

JadeB86 says...
11:05pm Sun 12 Aug 12

I live in dartford but there's nothing here anymore I'm all for Bluewater expanding! Times are moving on nobody goes to the high st anymore

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ilovecats says...
7:26am Mon 13 Aug 12

Re: Lester Piggott. Bluewater classy??? What are you on more like. Its chav central and poser central.

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PaulErith says...
8:29am Mon 13 Aug 12

Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then. Bluewater is much more lets just say up market.
Clearly from your brainless comments, you're the one with issues.

Report this post »

bexleyman says...
8:48am Mon 13 Aug 12

Probably a necessary evil. If Bluewater doesn't expand it'll shrink costing jobs - even less money swilling around the area to make its way into Dartford.

Westfield Stratford is a revelation - extremely easy to drive to and park at or indeed visit on public transport - I've already stopped visiting Bluewater

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Dartbored says...
9:06am Mon 13 Aug 12

jacks60 wrote:
Are we ever going to get Tesco in Dartford and, if so, what's the hold up now?
Can't find anything out, it's all gone very quiet. All I do know is that that Tesco are building a new Express store on East Hill.

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
9:14am Mon 13 Aug 12

I never go to Bluewater. Lakeside is much better in my opinion. As for Dartford, there really is nothing there any more. Sad as it is, the local high street is dead. As well as big out of town shopping centres, the internet means that there really is no place any more for many shops. You've only to look at how Woolworth's went from being a huge chain. I think, give it another 10 years, and literally the only things left on the high street will be hair dressers, nail shops, etc. i.e. the sort of thing that you can't get on the internet.

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Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
11:14am Mon 13 Aug 12

I have to agree with the Paul, high streets as we know them are dead. I've never been shopping to Darford, a drive through is depressing enough for me. I have to admit I do like Bromley, but that's more old habits die hard. All these shopping places do seem to attract the chav council tenant types though.

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danjflynn says...
11:31am Mon 13 Aug 12

Lets be honest. Dartford is a no mans land now. Apart from B&Q, Asda, M&S and Maconalds, there really isn't much more to go to Dartford for. The market is fine and will always attract custome for that but as for shops - it's bust. The high street is dated, the general feeling of Dartford is that it's run down and rough. I'd prefer to drive an extra 15 minutes to feel safe, secure and have a full selection of shops rather then go to "Dirtford" and waste time in the one decent shop. Sorry Dartford locals but all High Streets are closing.

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Dartbored says...
1:25pm Mon 13 Aug 12

I'm not from Dartford originally but moved to the area recently and I think it's all about perspective - yes, it's a tired, dated High Street, but it's better than when I moved here in 2007 (seriously). The quote in the article "It's ALL pound shops and 99p shops" is ridiculous, there's two pound shops.

IF Tesco's ever did move in I personally think it would transform the place. To me, Dartford has an awful lot to offer (theatre, schools, transport, the football club) it just needs a little help to fulfill it's potential.

If Dartford BC approve these plans then they are hypocrites - you can't publicly support the town centre regeneration (moving into the old Co-Op apparently) and then support it's competition a few miles down the road. It's one or the other DBC, and I think I know which you'll go for....

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Dr Lester Piggott says...
4:48pm Mon 13 Aug 12

PaulErith wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then. Bluewater is much more lets just say up market.
Clearly from your brainless comments, you're the one with issues.
Clearly Mr PaulErith after reading some of your brainless confrontational comments on stories on the NS it's you with many issues. You are a troll and I'm not going to feed you anymore, so run along back under your bridge now there's a good lad.

Report this post »

mouthalmighty says...
4:51pm Mon 13 Aug 12

Dr lester piggott you know me so well. I agree with dartbored. Dartford does have a lot of potential and I too prefer lakeside to bluewater.., paulerith. Bluewater is ok once in a blue moon but gor every day stuff I prefer a high street. Huge supermarkets are unfriendly.

Report this post »

Dartbored says...
5:24pm Mon 13 Aug 12

Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
PaulErith wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then. Bluewater is much more lets just say up market.
Clearly from your brainless comments, you're the one with issues.
Clearly Mr PaulErith after reading some of your brainless confrontational comments on stories on the NS it's you with many issues. You are a troll and I'm not going to feed you anymore, so run along back under your bridge now there's a good lad.
Ahh, Dr Lester Piggott. AKA the mighty Erastus (for our newer readers). I've been away for a while, how have you been Erastus?

Darty

Report this post »

jacks60 says...
7:08pm Mon 13 Aug 12

Dartbored wrote:
jacks60 wrote: Are we ever going to get Tesco in Dartford and, if so, what's the hold up now?
Can't find anything out, it's all gone very quiet. All I do know is that that Tesco are building a new Express store on East Hill.
Thank you Dartbored. I was also wondering why it had gone quiet. I thought it was on the verge of starting but its making me suspicious that there's no information. Maybe a newsshopper journalist could find out what the hold up is now?

Report this post »

Dr Lester Piggott says...
9:05pm Mon 13 Aug 12

Dartbored wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
PaulErith wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then. Bluewater is much more lets just say up market.
Clearly from your brainless comments, you're the one with issues.
Clearly Mr PaulErith after reading some of your brainless confrontational comments on stories on the NS it's you with many issues. You are a troll and I'm not going to feed you anymore, so run along back under your bridge now there's a good lad.
Ahh, Dr Lester Piggott. AKA the mighty Erastus (for our newer readers). I've been away for a while, how have you been Erastus?

Darty
Dartbored or Darty let me assure you I am NOT repeat NOT that awful man thank you.

Report this post »

Dartbored says...
9:51pm Mon 13 Aug 12

Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
Dartbored wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
PaulErith wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then. Bluewater is much more lets just say up market.
Clearly from your brainless comments, you're the one with issues.
Clearly Mr PaulErith after reading some of your brainless confrontational comments on stories on the NS it's you with many issues. You are a troll and I'm not going to feed you anymore, so run along back under your bridge now there's a good lad.
Ahh, Dr Lester Piggott. AKA the mighty Erastus (for our newer readers). I've been away for a while, how have you been Erastus?

Darty
Dartbored or Darty let me assure you I am NOT repeat NOT that awful man thank you.
Really?

http://www.newsshopp
er.co.uk/opinion_blo
gs/blogs/erastus/pro
file/34923/

Another Piggott, writing in the Newsshopper, what are the chances?

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
8:46am Tue 14 Aug 12

I think you'll find that most of my comments are just my opinion and not confrontational. Also a bit 'pot, kettle, black' as one of your first comments on this article was, " Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then.". Hence, for no reason you insulted someone's perfectly acceptable opinion. So I'd say you are the troll.
If you read my comment on this article (about the 10th one), I'd love to hear how that is confrontational.

Report this post »

the wall says...
11:19am Tue 14 Aug 12

PaulErith wrote:
I think you'll find that most of my comments are just my opinion and not confrontational. Also a bit 'pot, kettle, black' as one of your first comments on this article was, " Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then.". Hence, for no reason you insulted someone's perfectly acceptable opinion. So I'd say you are the troll. If you read my comment on this article (about the 10th one), I'd love to hear how that is confrontational.
Turn it in Paula. Do you know where Bluewater is ? You thought North Woolwich was in SE London.

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
12:12pm Tue 14 Aug 12

mouthalmighty wrote:
Dr lester piggott you know me so well. I agree with dartbored. Dartford does have a lot of potential and I too prefer lakeside to bluewater.., paulerith. Bluewater is ok once in a blue moon but gor every day stuff I prefer a high street. Huge supermarkets are unfriendly.
The only downside with Lakeside is the Dartford tunnel. In the week can be very slow, and the costs has risen too.

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Gavinp says...
8:48am Wed 15 Aug 12

Dont know if its been mentioned but theres also plenty of free parking !!!

Apart from christmas time, but then its the same every where then.

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Very-Honest says...
6:07pm Wed 15 Aug 12

Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
I think you call it progress.
Who really wants to walk around Dartford mingling with chav tarts with snotty nosed kids, drunks, and wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks underwear.

Bluewater for me I'm glad to say.
Steady on mate!

However, Bluewater over Dartford anytime.
:-)

Report this post »

Dr Lester Piggott says...
10:20pm Wed 15 Aug 12

Very-Honest wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
I think you call it progress.
Who really wants to walk around Dartford mingling with chav tarts with snotty nosed kids, drunks, and wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks underwear.

Bluewater for me I'm glad to say.
Steady on mate!

However, Bluewater over Dartford anytime.
:-)
OK then, it's only a little poetic license I think it's called. You have to admit though Darford is just such a dreary place. My diagnosis is very old and tired, the only cure is I'm sorry to say a bulldozer enema.

Report this post »

Dartbored says...
11:07pm Wed 15 Aug 12

Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
Very-Honest wrote:
Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
I think you call it progress.
Who really wants to walk around Dartford mingling with chav tarts with snotty nosed kids, drunks, and wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks underwear.

Bluewater for me I'm glad to say.
Steady on mate!

However, Bluewater over Dartford anytime.
:-)
OK then, it's only a little poetic license I think it's called. You have to admit though Darford is just such a dreary place. My diagnosis is very old and tired, the only cure is I'm sorry to say a bulldozer enema.
So what happened to your blog Erastus? Did everyone become fed up with your self indulgent drivel, or was that just me?

Report this post »

Dr Lester Piggott says...
11:29pm Wed 15 Aug 12

As much as you seem to want to believe I'm a sockpuppet of 'that' man, I really am NOT !

I agree it was all drivel, but for some reason it would seem we all read the man. I admit he did even make me smile once or twice. Well once, the other time I had an attack of gas to be honest.

Report this post »

Dartbored says...
1:44pm Thu 16 Aug 12

What's amusing is the fact that you've tried to change your writing style to throw people off the scent, but I can spot an Erastus post from fifty yards. Your comment about chav tarts and snotty kids bore all the trademarks of a classic Erastus "Modus Operandi"

But as you'll never admit it (even though you've kept the Piggott name which was a little naïve) I shall move on.

Back on topic - Dartford High Street is pretty depressing and the shopping experience at Bluewater is infinitely more pleasant. That said, I really dislike eating at Bluewater, it's a soulless and clinical experience.

Report this post »

Dr Lester Piggott says...
5:42pm Thu 16 Aug 12

Dartbored you really are barking up the wrong tree. I aint him I assure you. Honest !!

Think what you like though if it makes you happy.

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
9:26am Fri 17 Aug 12

the wall wrote:
PaulErith wrote: I think you'll find that most of my comments are just my opinion and not confrontational. Also a bit 'pot, kettle, black' as one of your first comments on this article was, " Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then.". Hence, for no reason you insulted someone's perfectly acceptable opinion. So I'd say you are the troll. If you read my comment on this article (about the 10th one), I'd love to hear how that is confrontational.
Turn it in Paula. Do you know where Bluewater is ? You thought North Woolwich was in SE London.
the wally : Were you a playground bully? You have no capcacity for reasoned argument. Instead you attempt to insult people. Get over yourself you sad little man!

Report this post »

the wall says...
10:41am Fri 17 Aug 12

PaulErith wrote:
the wall wrote:
PaulErith wrote: I think you'll find that most of my comments are just my opinion and not confrontational. Also a bit 'pot, kettle, black' as one of your first comments on this article was, " Mouthalmighty you must be one of those wacky backy smoking herberts still wearing last weeks skid marked underwear then.". Hence, for no reason you insulted someone's perfectly acceptable opinion. So I'd say you are the troll. If you read my comment on this article (about the 10th one), I'd love to hear how that is confrontational.
Turn it in Paula. Do you know where Bluewater is ? You thought North Woolwich was in SE London.
the wally : Were you a playground bully? You have no capcacity for reasoned argument. Instead you attempt to insult people. Get over yourself you sad little man!
Get you and your handbag. Sorry Paula is your time of the month?

Tell me where is North Woolwich?

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
11:06am Fri 17 Aug 12

the wally - Do you try to bully people at work? There's those sort of people where I work, but people see through them.

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the wall says...
12:02pm Fri 17 Aug 12

PaulErith wrote:
the wally - Do you try to bully people at work? There's those sort of people where I work, but people see through them.
Boo hoo. MTFU.

Report this post »

Dr Lester Piggott says...
12:09pm Fri 17 Aug 12

"but people see through them"

Like we see through you Mr PaulErith.


TROLL !!

Report this post »

PaulErith says...
1:26pm Fri 17 Aug 12

Dr Lester Piggott wrote:
"but people see through them" Like we see through you Mr PaulErith. TROLL !!
Are you and 'the wally' the same person?

Report this post »

Mr-Man says...
1:56pm Fri 17 Aug 12

Same mindless idiots with the same boring old comments every day - day in day out. I want to look on this website and read what's happening around the area and all you get is stupid comments..its about time a few of you A. just grow up or B. get a life….

Report this post »

the wall says...
3:37pm Fri 17 Aug 12

Mr-Man wrote:
Same mindless idiots with the same boring old comments every day - day in day out. I want to look on this website and read what's happening around the area and all you get is stupid comments..its about time a few of you A. just grow up or B. get a life….
The phrase ' Get a life ' said by those with no life and wanting to have a life. Offten uttered by the underclasses when that have run out things to say.

Used by insecure xenophobes as a response to someone with different interests or attitudes to themselves.
Also commonly used by egotistical individuals who know nothing about the person they're insulting.

So by all means look on this website and read what's happening around the area. But you don't have to read the comments or just don't read the comments posted by people you think you don't like.

Report this post »

Mr-Man says...
3:50pm Fri 17 Aug 12

Thats why you had two options one being grow up your the worst one on here mate nothing better to do is your life that boring all you do all day is comment on what everyone has to say on every artical..... Sad mate ......il say it again get a life

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the wall says...
4:32pm Fri 17 Aug 12

Sorry I didn't give you an answer to the grow up option. I was doing a tricky bit on my paint by numbers picture.

By growing up would that include the use of full stops and other punctuation?

I pleased I mean so much to you.

Report this post »

Mr-Man says...
4:36pm Fri 17 Aug 12

It might do but as long as i get the point across it does not matter how i write it. Point being your a massive co*k and i would think 99% of people who use this site would agree with me... Your boring mate FACT

Report this post »

the wall says...
4:55pm Fri 17 Aug 12

WOW so much effort from a random stranger on the interweb over nothing.
Well done sir I salute you with the Mrs Palm and her 5 lovely daughters. You seem to think that I care what people think of me. People that I have never met or will meet. I'm not here to make friends. I'm boring yet you still comment... You're priceless!

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Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
8:32pm Fri 17 Aug 12

I do hope 'Mizz' has Mr Mans IP address, we really do need to send the internet police around to check him out as he is being forced to read the NS and the comments. If in fact as I suspect he is OK and is reading all this BS under no duress at all perhaps the police, or maybe the firebrigade can take off his tin foil helmet.

tHAnk yOU.

Report this post »

Dogtag69 says...
10:01pm Sun 26 Aug 12

Hello all.
Can anyone tell me what is happening about the white horse statue that was going to be at the gateway to Kent.

Report this post »

Rich99 says...
4:54pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Dartford's a horrible, dreary place. I lived there for a year and possibly used the high street twice. I'd much rather head to Bluewater where there's a large selection of shops, or Bexleyheath which, although hardly Bond Street, just seems more welcoming than Dartord somehow, and IMHO has a better selection of shops. If Dartford high street wants to survive then DBC would need to put a huge amount of effort in to regeneration (look how Bexley have improved Erith (which I'll admit is still hardly a prime destination but much better than it used to be)). Somehow I don't think that will happen.

Anyway, on with the flaming chaps, pip pip! :)

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