Waveney MP Peter Aldous.
Photo: Andy Darnell
Lowestoft town team bid is launched
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
3:13 PM
SHOPKEEPERS and traders in Lowestoft have agreed this week to bid for up to £100,000 to attract more shoppers to the town and boost store’s coffers.
The green light to bid for the town team pilot scheme money was made at a meeting organised by Waveney MP Peter Aldous to discuss applying for funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Mr Aldous and 16 people attended the meeting on Monday at his constituency office in Surrey Street.
The meeting was organised after the government said it was looking to find 12 towns to share a £1m to funding to set up town teams to examine ways of protecting and supporting high streets.
The pilot scheme was set up after a high profile report on the future of high streets was published in December by Mary Portas, star of the BBC television programme Mary Queen of Scots.
As well as agreeing to apply for the town team funding, yesterday’s group agreed to form a steering committee to explore ways in which Lowestoft could be seen as a top shopping destination.
Mr Aldous said the strong theme from the meeting, which also involved Waveney District Council, was “smartening up and making the town centre an attractive and more enticing place.
He added that as well as the town centre, other areas could be bolstered by the setting up of a town team - the South beach, the two piers, the Scores and Kirkley’s main row of shops.
Mr Aldous said: “We have decided we are going for the Portas pilot bid. The competition for the funding will be fierce.
“At the meeting there was clear determination that we have got a good story here in Lowestoft and we want to get it out there and tell it.”
Danny Steel, chairman of the Lowestoft High Street Traders’ Association attended Tuesday’s town team meeting.
He told the Journal that there were already plans to bolster trade in the town by making the High Street more attractive with new hanging baskets, holding more regular markets and organising a major Queen Jubilee celebrations.
Mr Steel said: “What we have now is a nucleas which we can move forward to help Lowestoft. It may have been a bit sick, but it is getting better.”
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7 comments
And only 16 people attended the meeting! It Just shows most of the other businesses Were not interested. Just another example of not dealing with Lowestofts main problems Its Transport infrastructure and parking charges. No wonder people are going to beccles.
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Sifu
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
And this is the Town centre they spent 15million on only a few years ago on the Sunlies scheme. And now they are wanting the town smartening up!, and only 16 people turned up for the meeting! it just shows how many Businesses were not intrested dont it!
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Sifu
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
its like watching Tumbleweed! Nothing will change until people stop voting these clowns in every year, and SCC they are the worst culprits, they keep trying to turn Lowestoft into a mini Ipswich. its going to take Millions of pounds to put Lowestoft right! and can anyone truly see that happening?
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Sifu
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
"What we have now is a nucleas". Would that be a 'nucleus' then?
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point du jour
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
It'll take more than a few hanging baskets to make the centre of Lowestoft more attractive. The markets are enjoyable, but don't they divert spending of limited disposable incomes from the shops? Spend the money on a serious cleaning effort, including the removal of chewing gum, pick-pockets, drug-dealers, dog faeces and fast-food litter! The pedestrian area needs to be washed on a regular basis, not just swept. The buildings around Station Square, which is the "gateway" to the town centre, must be improved - not knocked down. Then provide some proper affordable public transport and convenient secure cycle parking. Install more public seating. Plant some trees and protect them effectively from the attentions of a certain section of the populace. And finally, some very visible policing would make the town centre a much more inviting and enjoyable place to be.
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point du jour
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
all these shops trying to tempt us in. free car parks would be a start.
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bookworm
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
For a start, try reducing parking charges !
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"V"
Tuesday, February 21, 2012