I have just been for a tour around the former Argos building in Eastgate Street, on the corner of Brunswick Road. Argos closed here in mid-May, relocating to a click and collect service at Sainsburys at Gloucester Quays, following a takeover of Argos’ parent company by the supermarket giant. They still have the store at St Oswald’s Park on the former Cattle Market.

Those of us who have been in Gloucester for a long time will remember the Argos building as the Co-op department store. I recall Thursday morning shopping trips with my late grandparents including the treat of a drink and a cake at the Co-op’s café, before going to their food hall (where New Look is now), buying circular plastic milk tokens and getting Co-op stamps to go in a collector’s book (before the days of store loyalty cards).

An opportunity to make better use of the building

After the Co-op closed, the building went through a short period of time as “Inshops” – a collection of shops within a shop. This was before my time as a councillor, but I remember it coming into conflict with the City Council’s ancient markets charter, which effectively gives the Council control of any markets within a certain distance of The Cross. A fire hit the building and Inshops never re-opened.

Having had a good walk around the building, it’s clear that Argos were only ever using a fraction of the huge amount of space it offers. While it’s sad to see Argos go, perhaps this gives us an opportunity to make better use of it, particularly the upper floors. The building is in private ownership, so it’s up to the landlord (subject to planning) what he does with it, but I’d be interested in your thoughts. Should it be flats, student accommodation, a hotel or something else?

The face of Joseph Clay, the founder of the Gloucester Cooperative Society, still adorns the building on the Brunswick Road side. I wonder what he makes of it. It would be good to see this building back to its former glory. Perhaps we could even get the clock fixed!