Feng Shui

1
Feng Shui

• Feng shui is the study of how humans interact
  with their environment.
• The aim is to create environments where the
  people living and working there can best succeed.
• Feng shui is based on the idea that people react
  to their environment and this can affect their
  emotions, mood and thoughts.
• We might for example feel different in a
  cathedral compared to a café.
• In the experience of feng shui people respond to
  colours, shapes, sizes of spaces, plants,
  flowers, views of nature, lighting, art,
  materials and imagery.
• In Congleton the aim of using feng shui is to
  create an atmosphere that is positive and
  satisfying to live and work in as well as likely
  to attract new people to the town.

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Simon Brown

• Ran the first feng shui courses in the UK.
• Written many best selling feng shui books.
• Worked with British Airways on the design of
  their Waterside headquarters.
• Helped The Body Shop create their shop redesign.
• Been involved in the design of many airport
  terminals.
• Started as a design engineer and then trained in
  Oriental Medicine before starting a career as a
  feng shui teacher and consultant.
• Currently the chairperson of the Feng Shui
  Society.

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Aims

• To create an atmosphere that attracts people to
  Congleton.
• To make Congleton an attractive and beautiful
  place to live and work.
• To help Congleton function as a town where people
  can shop, work, meet and socialise.
• To build on the historical character of Congleton
  and respect its heritage.
• To help Congleton find its own distinctive
  character and develop a reputation.
• To encourage the kind of changes that would make
  Congleton a happy place to be.

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Opportunities for ChangeWhere can we improve and
regenerate the town and create the most positive
benefits

• Mountbatten Way.
• Market Square.
• Bus station.
• Train Station.
• Main shopping streets.
• The derelict mills.
• Parking.
• Links to the canal.
• Vegetation.

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Mountbatten Way

• ISSUES
• Currently feels cold, hard, municipal, fast and
  industrial.
• Cuts through the town separating the town centre
  from the leisure facilities.
• Creates a poor impression of Congleton for all
  those passing through.
• Nothing to entice drivers into the town.

6
Mountbatten Way

• SUGGESTIONS
• Plant trees either side of Mountbatten Way.
• Grow hedges in the centre and at the sides of the
  road.
• Continue with the beautiful flowers.
• Display posters highlighting the benefits of
  visiting the town.
• Create parking facilities that make it easy to
  stop and try the shops and cafes.
• Build an interesting and landmark bridge across
  Mountbatten Way from the town centre side to the
  leisure facilities and park.

7
Market Square

• ISSUES
• Built into a pit below street level.
• Cold, hard, municipal atmosphere.
• Cannot see all the stalls and retail units.
• Does not have a festive, fun or happy atmosphere.
• Lacks character.

8
Market Square

• SUGGESTIONS
• Built at street level above a new car park.
• Create a traditional town square.
• Use style of Little Morton hall to create a
  unique atmosphere.
• Give the market and appetising, fresh, colourful
  atmosphere.
• Make the market something that will be a talking
  point in the area.
• Include a café to make the market a place people
  would want to spend time.
• Make sure the market is exposed to sunlight.

9
Bus Station

• ISSUES
• This is the first impression of Congleton for
  visitors arriving by bus.
• It has an uninteresting, bland, cold, hard,
  municipal atmosphere.
• Cannot see the way to the town centre or market
  square clearly.
• Open, exposed, unprotected feeling.

10
Bus Station

• SUGGESTIONS
• Grow vines across the Morrisons and Library
  walls.
• Plant lots of trees.
• Display attractive pictures of Congleton.
• Clearly sign people into Capital Walk and on to
  the town centre.

11
Train Station

• ISSUES
• This is the first impression of Congleton for
  visitors arriving by train.
• The grey colour scheme and bunker style
  architecture creates a depressing image of
  Congleton.
• The station creates peoples impression of
  Congleton who are passing through.
• The station does not reflect the nature and
  aesthetics of Congleton.
• There is nothing to entice or attract people to
  visit Congleton.
• The station is situated too far from the town
  centre for an easy walk.

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Train Station

• SUGGESTIONS
• A maroon or more attractive colour would create a
  better impression.
• Plants and flowers would brighten up the station.
• Posters showing the most attractive aspects of
  Congleton would arouse greater interest in the
  town.
• A bus service co-ordinated with the trains would
  make it easier for passengers to visit the town.
• A marketing campaign might be coordinated with
  the train operator to inform passengers of the
  delights of visiting Congleton.

13
Shopping Streets

• ISSUES
• Some of the streets felt a little bare.
• Retailers claimed trade was slow.
• A lack of people in the streets and using the
  shops, cafes and restaurants.
• All the interesting shops and cafes are not
  visible to people driving through Congleton.
• Shops close early.
• The shutters create a run down inner city
  atmosphere in the evening.

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Shopping Streets

• SUGGESTIONS
• Create a strong retailers association to agree on
  closing times, shop frontage, shutters, creating
  a shop plan of the town, marketing Congleton as a
  retail destination on the internet, exploring
  shopper friendly parking and decoration.
• Brighten up the streets with trees and
  vegetation.
• Add colour with window boxes with flowering
  plants.
• Encourage outdoor eating for Bridge Street.

15
Derelict Mills

• ISSUES
• Creates a slightly depressing impression of
  Congleton.
• Appears run down and decaying.
• Unattractive.

16
Derelict Mills

• SUGGESTIONS
• Think of these mills as a huge advertising
  opportunity to Congleton.
• Use the mills to attract drivers and passengers
  into the town centre.
• Use the art of trompe loeil to make the
  buildings more attractive.

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Images to Promote and Identify Congleton
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Images to Promote and Identify Congleton
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Images to Promote and Identify Congleton
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank and acknowledge all those
who helped Dragana and myself compile this
report. Dawn Gibbins MBE Peter Cooper David
Dingle Margaret Williamson MBE John
Bearmoor Fiona Hampton Jackie McArthur Sally-Anne
Holland David Watson.
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Made Possible by
A very special thank you to Dawn Gibbins MBE who
inspired and sponsored this report. Her
enthusiasm and positivity were the seeds for the
ideas that blossomed here.
Dawn Gibbins MBE Founder Barefoot
Feng Shui Barefoot Park Bosley , Nr
Congleton 0845 388 08 08 www.barefoot-fengshui
.com