Eden celebrates fifth birthday (From Bucks Free Press)
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Wycombe's Eden centre celebrates fifth birthday
7:05pm Wednesday 13th March 2013 in News By Simon Farr
SHOPPERS and Eden workers formed the number five to celebrate the High Wycombe shopping centre’s fifth birthday.
About 50 workers and shoppers, lured in by Krispe Kreme doughnuts, gathered outside Eden’s flagship store House of Fraser to mark the shopping centre’s fifth anniversary today.
Goodie bags and vouchers were also handed out to lucky shopaholics – who were full of praise for the positive effect Eden has had on the town.
Mica Lisk, 22, said: “It’s brilliant, it has got everything I could possibly need and I pop in every day in my lunchbreak.
“I wasn’t here pre-Eden but I’m told Wycombe was run-down and this revitalised the town, so it has done great things.”
David Griffin, who has been manager of Shopmobility for 20 years, said his organisation has been able to help double the amount of people since its office moved into the shopping centre.
He said: “Eden has put Wycombe on the map, unfortunately the timing with the economic climate isn’t ideal, but it is still doing well and is a major success story.
“I remember this area [House of Fraser] was old office blocks and a dirty bus station in which the diesel fumes choked you.
“Now, it looks good, the car-parking has more than doubled and it has rejuvenated High Wycombe – it’s what we were lacking.”
Clare Podbieleski, shopping with mum June and three-year-old daughter Pollyanna Richards, said: “I moved here about that time and it was rubbish – but I like Eden, it's a good shopping centre.”
Thousands of people lined the streets as Brazilian dancers and a brass band performed at Eden’s firework-filled launch on March 13, 2008.
Cllr Lesley Clarke, who was Leader of Wycombe District Council at the time, opened the shopping centre and hailed its impact.
She said: “I think it has given a lot to the town and it is not just the retail side, we have a new bus station which was desperately needed, we have a cinema in the town centre – it has been a big plus for Wycombe.
“I think Eden is better than I thought it would be. Some of the other shopping centres are boiling hot and Eden was never meant to be an enclosed space. I think it’s really nice.
“And hopefully it will only get better. We were lucky in the sense it came just before the credit crunch, but obviously that has had an effect on its growth.
“Now we have to look at Frogmoor and the High Street, which will be part of the council’s Masterplan.”
Click here to view a picture gallery of five years of Eden.
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (29)
8:01pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ivor says...
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There is no doubt the complex killed off the High Street and resulted in a multitude of 'To Let' boards hanging like albatrosses above some of the towns most historic buildings.
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We were better off before the monstrosity was built!
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Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “Your say” then “Blogs” links at the top of this page.
9:10pm Wed 13 Mar 13
gpn01 says...
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Worrying also that she says "“I think Eden is better than I thought it would be. Some of the other shopping centres are boiling hot and Eden was never meant to be an enclosed space. I think it’s really nice. ". I can only presume that she's never visited the shopping centres at Uxbridge (air conditioned), Westfield (air conditioned), Reading Oracle (air conditioned). Which centres has she been too which are boiling???
9:12pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
(Take no notice of igor - we were better off before the monstrosity was unleashed.)
9:18pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ivor says...
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Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “Your say” then “Blogs” links at the top of this page.
9:23pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ivor says...
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One can feel a blog coming on about this topic....
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Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “Your say” then “Blogs” links at the top of this page.
9:33pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
10:19pm Wed 13 Mar 13
BOOKERite says...
11:36pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
11:39pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
11:41pm Wed 13 Mar 13
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
6:36am Thu 14 Mar 13
1wycombe says...
8:26am Thu 14 Mar 13
demoness the second says...
Are John Lewis going to be cheaper than the House of Fraser then?
Will they have more of a selection?
Will there be other shops moving in around it as well?
8:54am Thu 14 Mar 13
1wycombe says...
9:03am Thu 14 Mar 13
gotanybiscuits? says...
.
Simples.
9:17am Thu 14 Mar 13
Garrob says...
10:04am Thu 14 Mar 13
Ivor'sbestfriend says...
10:47am Thu 14 Mar 13
johnmfritz says...
10:52am Thu 14 Mar 13
demoness the second says...
I loathe the place - the car park is awful.
12:16pm Thu 14 Mar 13
bennyfromtheblock says...
3:55pm Thu 14 Mar 13
readerabc says...
i dont want to buy new clothes and change my mobile evey week- i can't afford to !!
4:37pm Thu 14 Mar 13
gotanybiscuits? says...
I was merely stating the obvious reason for not visiting the hateful town centre.
John Lewis is convenient & readily accessible without penalty charges.
If you have half a day to waste, & don't mind the cost, inconvenience, etc., of going to HW, then carry on doing so.
It does not suit me.
5:20pm Thu 14 Mar 13
1wycombe says...
8:05pm Thu 14 Mar 13
buser says...
Eden is lovely, lots of nice shops, but I hate the car park and for me personally, it is not very accessible, my problem, not the shopping centres fault, and in bad weather, it is jolly hard work!
9:10pm Thu 14 Mar 13
Bounty8 says...
Think Tesco rules WDC...
9:35pm Thu 14 Mar 13
buser says...
10:46pm Thu 14 Mar 13
demoness the second says...
I still hate JL though :D
11:23pm Thu 14 Mar 13
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
8:24am Fri 15 Mar 13
Elmo says...
11:19am Fri 15 Mar 13
ImpeturbableLawrence says...
press.co.uk/yoursay/
opinion/blogs/885490
1.Remembering_D_Day/
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(I came back again. )