City Centre manager Melvyn Teare writes each week about issues and activities in St Albans. Here he talks about adapting to our 24-hour society.

OUR shopping behaviour is often governed by the money we have, the time we have to spend it in and our current lifestyle.

We are quickly becoming an around-the-clock society with more people now working at night.

And with 24,000 people returning to St Albans each evening from London, customers expect to be able to transact business at any time.

That means we should think about extending our hours or finding an after-hours partner to cater for all those night owls out there.

A recent report published through the Henley Centre highlighted a decline in planned shopping and a rise in immediate shopping. The centre translates this into less out of town, big shopping occasions, and an increasing number of town centre shopping trips.

Single people are less likely to do "big shops" in edge of town or out of town centres, preferring to pick up their fresh foods on their way home from work.

The child-free are more likely to opt for evening entertainment in the town centre as opposed to the "pizza and video" routine of exhausted parents.

However, realising the demand for "local" shopping means delivering high quality facilities. In July the St Albans Chamber of Commerce is hosting a breakfast meeting entitled Open all Hours which will look at this topic in detail.

To book places at this breakfast, contact the chamber office on St Albans 863054.

St Alban's Day

St Alban's Day is on June 22. Mr Martin Hallett, St Albans town crier, will be proclaiming the story of St Alban around the city. As well as giving the news of St Alban's martyrdom he will also proclaim messages for local businesses and shops.

If you wish to have your news delivered in this unique style around the city, then contact me on <citycentremanager@stalb

ans.gov.uk>.

Like last year we will be flying the flag from available flagpoles around the city.

This year the Crown Court in Bricket Road will be open on St Alban's Day for behind the scene visits.

For other events and more detail on St Alban's Day look out for the St Alban's Day magazine published in the St Albans Observer.

f=NewspaperPi BTtoCity Centre Management is a partnership between local retailers, business services and St Albans District Council. To find out how your business or voluntary group can benefit from the work of the partnership, contact Melvyn Teare, city centre manager on 01727 819268.

June 17, 2002 10:30