Artworks to brighten empty shop windows in Hull city centre

“How very entrepreneurial of them. Notsure how it will kickstart new business and therefore generate additional revenue.

I leased a medium sized shop in Hull and when my first rates bill arrived it was nearly £7000. When I called HCC to enquire as to what services I would receive for my £7000 the answer was 'nothing sir, it's just a tax'

My response to the charming, if not slightly sarcastic council employee was 'surely you are not charging me £7000 just to empty my bins'

Her final response was 'no sir we don't empty business bins, you need to arrange and pay for your own'

Another empty shop on the streets of Hull.”

“So the council and Arc cannot be seen to promote small entrepreneurial business, but they can promote small entrepreneurial artists. I am pleased for the artists, really I am, it is a great opportunity for them.

But will somebody please explain how this will encourage somebody to take a lease on an overpriced empty shop unit when retail is totally saturated in the city. This initiative would seem to be only aimed at trying to attract more bland national retailers in the vain hope that they are blinkered enough to think that certain streets are more active than they actually are.

I doubt it will attract local businesses who know the area, but might invest, but can't afford the high rents, rents pitched at national retailers, who would prefer to be in St Stephens.”

“I would LOVE to be given the opportunity to have a local retail outlet for my business but can't afford it. In the meantime, empty shop units are being given pretty windows instead of being let to local entrepreneurs crying out for a place (other than the internet) to operate. WHY aren't these shops being offered on a short-term lease to people who want to make a living? Where's the support for local people wanting to bring local trade to local shoppers in their own streets? Argh, I could scream.......”

“I am appalled that Hull is prepared to waste money again on temporary art. IT DOES NOT AND HAS NEVER KICK STARTED REGENERATION! I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS THOROUGHLY, THERE ARE NO PROVEN EXAMPLES OF THIS ANYWHERE. Why is Arc - an architecture charity messing about with fine artists? "Meanwhile uses" should not mean art in a shop window - that is not a "use". What is needed is cheap rents for small businesses. It saddens me that Arc cannot do something more strategic.”

“How can you breathe life into something which is stone dead. The empty shops will remain so forever more as there are too many retail units in Hull. Convert these places into residential quarters, the days of the High Street are well and truly over.”

“why not give new tenants opening a new shop for the first time free 12 months rent and rates, then it wouldnt be empty”

“Presumably, you mean 'breathe' new life etc....?

Anyway, I used to like the unintentionally ironic posters of 'Vibrant Hull' on the many empty shops.”