Friday
19
April
Mayor calls for a partnership to reinvigorate the town centre
25/06/2021 @ 11:52
The private, public and voluntary sectors need to form a partnership to help reinvigorate Newtown's town centre.
That's the call from the newly elected Mayor, Cllr Richard Williams, who said the town centre had been unfairly targeted in a survey highlighted by MyNewtown that placed it 10th worst in the UK.
A 'Vitality Index' placed Newtown tenth. Girvan in South Ayrshire was number one, while Chepstow in South Wales was ranked third; Cardigan, Ceredigion, fourth; Tonypandy, South Wales, sixth; Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, seventh; and Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, eighth.
Cllr Williams said: "As Mayor, I was disappointed to read that the survey by the retail consultancy showing Newtown is in the top 10 worst high streets in Great Britain, and I can’t help feel that it unfairly overlooks the efforts of Newtown’s retailers to survive, and in some cases, thrive in a difficult economy climate.
"Whilst the study looks at retail, our town centre has much more to offer through a thriving restaurant and café scene, a high proportion of independent retailers and fantastic green and blue spaces which all bring residents and visitors to Newtown."
He added: "Newtown has benefited in recent years from inward investment, led by the Town Council with other partners such as Open Newtown and Powys County Council.
"Recent town centre public investment includes purchasing a vacant property on Broad Street and transforming it into a Reuse & Repair Hub as part of the Welsh Government Circular Economy Fund. Private investment is also taking place, as demonstrated by the opening of new businesses in the town centre.
"As Mayor, I'd welcome a discussion between public, private, and the voluntary sectors on how we can move forward together in a Town Partnership, one of our identified projects in our new Place Plan."
Powys County Council has this week begun a consultation into the future of Newtown and other Powys town centres.
It will consider ways of supporting their growth through improved public access, such as the current temporary social distancing measures that have created seating and larger areas for pedestrians and shoppers.
That's the call from the newly elected Mayor, Cllr Richard Williams, who said the town centre had been unfairly targeted in a survey highlighted by MyNewtown that placed it 10th worst in the UK.A 'Vitality Index' placed Newtown tenth. Girvan in South Ayrshire was number one, while Chepstow in South Wales was ranked third; Cardigan, Ceredigion, fourth; Tonypandy, South Wales, sixth; Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, seventh; and Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, eighth.
Cllr Williams said: "As Mayor, I was disappointed to read that the survey by the retail consultancy showing Newtown is in the top 10 worst high streets in Great Britain, and I can’t help feel that it unfairly overlooks the efforts of Newtown’s retailers to survive, and in some cases, thrive in a difficult economy climate.
"Whilst the study looks at retail, our town centre has much more to offer through a thriving restaurant and café scene, a high proportion of independent retailers and fantastic green and blue spaces which all bring residents and visitors to Newtown."
He added: "Newtown has benefited in recent years from inward investment, led by the Town Council with other partners such as Open Newtown and Powys County Council.
"Recent town centre public investment includes purchasing a vacant property on Broad Street and transforming it into a Reuse & Repair Hub as part of the Welsh Government Circular Economy Fund. Private investment is also taking place, as demonstrated by the opening of new businesses in the town centre.
"As Mayor, I'd welcome a discussion between public, private, and the voluntary sectors on how we can move forward together in a Town Partnership, one of our identified projects in our new Place Plan."
Powys County Council has this week begun a consultation into the future of Newtown and other Powys town centres.
It will consider ways of supporting their growth through improved public access, such as the current temporary social distancing measures that have created seating and larger areas for pedestrians and shoppers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|