Thursday
25
April
Consultation will look into the future of town centres
18/06/2021 @ 09:25
Social distancing measures put in place in Newtown town centre could evolve into more permanent spaces.
A consultation will begin on Monday into the future of town centres throughout Powys, including Newtown.
The four-week exercise will consult with businesses, residents and visitors to find their views on how town centres should be post-Covid-19.
Powys County Council is urging traders and others to take part in the consultation.
A council statement said: "The Covid-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the lives and health of many Powys citizens, but it has also had severe economic consequences.
"The lockdown had an immediate impact on the way in which our town centres operate with many businesses adapting the way in which they have worked to ensure that their local communities were provided with the services and goods they needed throughout the pandemic."
Cllr Heulwen Hulme, Cabinet Member for Highways said: “To encourage the public back into our town centres and to help businesses open safely and in compliance with ongoing restrictions and regulations, it was important to make some temporary changes to how some of our town centres had traditionally worked.
“There will be no quick fix to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, social distancing and the need for personal protection measures will be with us for some time.”
The temporary measures for social distancing were put in place following discussions with representatives of each the town to facilitate businesses trading, by providing outdoor space for their customers, and for pedestrians to social distance as they walk along pavements.
These temporary measures have highlighted that town centres can evolve and make use of the highway space differently. The pandemic has given rise to an element of café culture being experienced within our towns and an enthusiasm for embracing our outside areas, which is something that might be considered appropriate to retain post pandemic restrictions.
“We are aware that high streets have changed over the recent years and the pandemic has accelerated that change by several years, especially with greater reliance on online shopping etc.” adds Cllr Hulme.
“We must therefore seek to address that change and aid the recovery of our town centres by making them destinations that people want to visit, with resilient and viable businesses and strong communities."
Cllr Hulme added: “As we begin to plan for a safe, resilient future, this is the opportunity to look at things differently and rebalance our public spaces.
"Whilst some businesses may consider it is essential to park within the high streets, this does not always provide the attractive spaces which will draw people to that town. We therefore need to consider the balance of the needs of the shops and businesses and the availability of parking and develop proposals that meet the needs of the changing high streets.
“The Welsh Government have made available a special placemaking grant during this current financial year to enable us to explore this in greater detail. Nothing will be put in place without the appropriate levels of consultation with all involved for each town. But first, we would like to ask your opinion of the recent temporary measures in Brecon, Hay on Wye, Newtown and Crickhowell.”
To take part in this initial engagement exercise into the future of our town centres, please visit: www.haveyoursaypowys.wales
A consultation will begin on Monday into the future of town centres throughout Powys, including Newtown.The four-week exercise will consult with businesses, residents and visitors to find their views on how town centres should be post-Covid-19.
Powys County Council is urging traders and others to take part in the consultation.
A council statement said: "The Covid-19 crisis has had a significant impact on the lives and health of many Powys citizens, but it has also had severe economic consequences.
"The lockdown had an immediate impact on the way in which our town centres operate with many businesses adapting the way in which they have worked to ensure that their local communities were provided with the services and goods they needed throughout the pandemic."
Cllr Heulwen Hulme, Cabinet Member for Highways said: “To encourage the public back into our town centres and to help businesses open safely and in compliance with ongoing restrictions and regulations, it was important to make some temporary changes to how some of our town centres had traditionally worked.
“There will be no quick fix to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, social distancing and the need for personal protection measures will be with us for some time.”
The temporary measures for social distancing were put in place following discussions with representatives of each the town to facilitate businesses trading, by providing outdoor space for their customers, and for pedestrians to social distance as they walk along pavements.
These temporary measures have highlighted that town centres can evolve and make use of the highway space differently. The pandemic has given rise to an element of café culture being experienced within our towns and an enthusiasm for embracing our outside areas, which is something that might be considered appropriate to retain post pandemic restrictions.
“We are aware that high streets have changed over the recent years and the pandemic has accelerated that change by several years, especially with greater reliance on online shopping etc.” adds Cllr Hulme.
“We must therefore seek to address that change and aid the recovery of our town centres by making them destinations that people want to visit, with resilient and viable businesses and strong communities."
Cllr Hulme added: “As we begin to plan for a safe, resilient future, this is the opportunity to look at things differently and rebalance our public spaces.
"Whilst some businesses may consider it is essential to park within the high streets, this does not always provide the attractive spaces which will draw people to that town. We therefore need to consider the balance of the needs of the shops and businesses and the availability of parking and develop proposals that meet the needs of the changing high streets.
“The Welsh Government have made available a special placemaking grant during this current financial year to enable us to explore this in greater detail. Nothing will be put in place without the appropriate levels of consultation with all involved for each town. But first, we would like to ask your opinion of the recent temporary measures in Brecon, Hay on Wye, Newtown and Crickhowell.”
To take part in this initial engagement exercise into the future of our town centres, please visit: www.haveyoursaypowys.wales
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