TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY TOWN CENTRES

“If our town centres are to survive and thrive again, we need to think more radically and more intelligently about their future.”

Action for Market Towns

TOWN CENTRE COMEBACK

“What you can do to revive your high street”

Action for Market Towns

HEALTHY HIGH STREET?

“A healthcheck for high streets and town centres”

Includes a useful 5 minute checklist

BIS Department for Business
 Innovation and Skills

RE-IMAGINING THE HIGH STREET

“Escape from Clone-Town Britain” The 2010 Clone Town Report

Would you have guessed that one of the worst clone towns in the country is, of all places, Cambridge!!

NEF New Economics Foundation

Background

Between 10-17 November, Martyn Dell and I visited 36 retail businesses on High Street, Normandy Street, Market Street, Turk Street and Cross & Pillory Lane in order to collect opinions from local businesses about the current social and economic health of the town.

All those seen were offered an explanatory ‘flyer’ and invited to attend the meeting itself (although it is recognised that Saturday morning is not ideal for many) and to make further comments via e-mail or in writing if they so chose.

It should be stressed that this was not a ‘scientific’ or structured survey.  Rather, the exercise provided us with a useful snapshot of how many of our local traders are feeling at this important time for the town.

We received many useful contributions and are extremely grateful for the time and consideration given by the many people we met. People seemed to welcome the chance to get things off their chests!

Emerging/Key themes

Inevitably, a wide range of views and opinions was expressed covering

individual businesses’ prospects and issues,

the town more widely

and the potential impact of national and local economic difficulties.

There were contrasting and often opposing views! But there was consensus on some areas.

From the material gathered, we have identified three broad areas which in one way or another formed an important part of many responses –

1 ‘Shop mix’; some traders  felt that the town was tending to go ‘downmarket’ in that there was observed to have been an increase in the number of discount stores and fast food outlets appearing, coupled with the loss of ‘top end’ shops. This was felt to have a negative effect on the town.   Potential questions: what do people understand by this?  Is there evidence?  Does it matter if it is so?

2 ‘Selling the town’; there was support for the appointment of some kind of Town Manager who would help sell the town and also help the work of businesses themselves. This was often linked to proposals for the ‘Tesco £1m’

Several traders said they felt they occupied a ‘niche market’ which meant that many customers visit the town specifically for shops such as theirs ….

Potential questions; should this be encouraged?  If so, how?

3 Perhaps surprisingly,  a positive view of trading in Alton; several businesses had not been trading in the town for long and were very positive about their experience to date both in terms of their specific business and the town more widely.  Equally, some very long established businesses expressed confidence about their particular market place and strengths.

Potential questions: how can we build on and harness these positive reactions?

Other significant themes identified included –

 Impact of national economic downturn…most businesses said they were affected by the recession

 Empty shops…clearly a concern

 Parking emerged as significant issue for most

 Waitrose/Tesco featured in several responses, ranging from very negative to neutral to positive (eg scope for creation of additional jobs)

  mixed views about markets. With some traders feeling that the markets did not help their business.  Generally positive view of impact of events such as ‘classic cars’

 Some spoke about the need to increase ‘footfall’, with a specific concern being the lack of customers after 2.00pm each day

One young resident trader said ‘Altonians don’t like change’

Perhaps the time has come for us to accept that change is inevitable and to find ways to build on the positive views and aspects that we heard the traders express and work together to keep Alton alive, healthy, prosperous and vibrant.

Car parking; suggestions – 1st half-hour / one-hour free; return to refund of 1st hr with certain retailers

Heavy traffic through High Street – searching for free parking spaces Chamber of Commerce – its position?

When will £1 million become available / decision-making by whom

New incoming businesses could be better supported

Return to having Alton Initiatives Manager?

200 ideas on £1 million received by ATC

Will centres of market towns inevitably become residential in the longer term?

Community spirit and enthusiasm of Alton people will encourage retailers

Night economy is important to the town and needs looking at

Reach out to youth – it’s their future; use Youth Theatres / groups as conduit to reach them

Walkway through from Draymans Way to High Street similar to Westbrook Walk to help increase footfall

Only self-financing / sustainable projects to be selected for £1 million

Improve ways of marketing local events

Ground floor of Town hall building could be central “hub” re. local activities

Collective effort / collaboration (all community orgs together) to move forward positively – stood out as the one having strong support.