Grandma Hetty has made the front page of the B&R this week. She told me she didn't really want to do it - the reporter persuaded her. It's her thoughts about the state of trade in Hay, and why she's moving to Leominster with her sweet shop. This is balanced by a short interview with Derek Addyman at the end. She blames the internet for the lack of visitors to Hay, and Derek suggests there are several factors at work, of which the internet is only one part. She also suggests that more could be made of the river, such as a cafe and gift shop down near the canoe landing stage.
Now, I've heard several visitors to Hay say that they would like a place to sit down with a view over the river and a drink, and it's a lovely idea - but it just isn't practical. The car park by the canoe landing stage is privately owned, and the steep slope behind the houses going down to the river means that there isn't anywhere to put a beer garden or cafe garden. And there are already several cafes in Hay, who would not be very happy if another one were to start up down by the river.
A few years ago, there was an plan to build seats under the bridge, tiled like Gaudi's work in Barcelona, but that fell at the first hurdle because of the amount the county council charged to send out a structural engineer to make sure the plans wouldn't make the bridge fall down. The idea was to use them as a mini open air theatre.
It would be nice to use the cycle path for some sort of event, though. Maybe a sculpture trail, or - when I was going out with the re-enactors, we did a Hallowe'en show along a trail through a wood, with little scenes being played out at intervals along the path, and a fire show at the end, and mulled wine and so on. Two of us were doing a fight scene; I was a witch (I had a jam jar full of 'fairy liquid' - first catch your fairy, then squeeze it....), and there were several members of the local dramatic society being ghosts and so on. That would be fun.
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I beg to differ, sorry. Why is it necessary to entice people with a cafe to go down to the river? There's nothig to stop people enjoying the riverside - take a picnic and use one of the several benches or go to the Warren. Enough people use tables at the Toll Bridge with fish and chips - they seem to get the idea!
Hetty's sweet shop was a great idea, but wasn't the rent very high? There's not a lot of profit margin on a few sweeties here and there, especially with health conscious people around..........
The most delightful aspect about the river path and the banks of the Wye at Hay is that it is unspoilt and pretty much unchanged, other than the disappearance of the railway, for hundreds of years. It is beautiful because it is a natural place devoid of any human clutter. It is loved and appreciated for its flora and fauna, its light and shade, its passing seasons, its peace and its tranquility.
Why anyone would even think that a café or, horror upon horrors, a gift shop would enhance the banks of the Wye beggars belief.
It seems to be that today people cannot enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings without having to constantly be stuffing their faces with food and drink.
There was another comment on this post, but I thought it was in rather poor taste, so I deleted it. (Something I very rarely do)
Yes - I agree with Arthurs' Dad - the walk is fine just the way it is!
Maybe the rent in Hay is the real reason why business finds it difficult. It is certainly the reason why Hay Community Support cannot find decent office space - and they try to look after some of the more vulnerable in the area.
I just love the "how to make fairy liquid" tip!
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