MORE than 150 people gathered in Northampton to have their say and help shape the future of the town centre.
The ‘Northampton town centre – Our Next Steps’ event, hosted by Northampton town centre Business Improvement District (BID), brought a panel of business, education and council leaders together, with Northampton residents and businesses asking challenging questions and sharing their aspirations.
At the event, which took place at the Park Inn, Northampton in September, Rob Purdie, Executive Director of Northampton town centre BID, summarised: “It is time to act, to focus on our town centre, to be positive and to move forwards. Northampton town centre needs a big hug.”
John Griff, compere of the event said: “We are here to talk about the future. Nobody can deny that Northampton has seen its fair share of challenges but there is also plenty to be positive about.”
Among the key points were:
* Deborah Mattock, Director of Human Resources, Marketing and International Relations, The University of Northampton urged businesses and residents to warmly welcome thousands of students and staff to the town centre with the opening of the new Waterside campus. She told the audience: “Our students have money to spend and skills to offer.”
* The Market Square was announced as a priority for the BID and also the council. George Candler, Chief Executive of Northampton Borough Council, said: “We need to create areas for people to congregate and there is an opportunity to do something with the market square, and we need to be bold and imaginative.”
* Christmas lights will return this year, announced the council, despite rumours to the contrary.
* George Candler, Chief Executive of Northampton Borough Council, said the borough council will pick up the £55,000 bill for improvements to The Drapery – to tackle traffic flow and reduce the air pollution.
* Contractors are now on the site of the new museum, with the £7m refit now under way that will double its size. Next to the museum will also be home to a small business hub – Vulcan Works. This project has been awarded £3million of European money.
* Jonathan Nunn, Leader of Northampton Borough Council announced ‘iconic and bold’ plans for the old Greyfriars bus station site.
The borough council also announced its commitment to getting people back into and living in the town centre with apartments for key workers and ‘grand plans’ for private and social housing in and around the town centre.
There was applause from the audience when it was announced that the East Midlands in Bloom judges had visited Northampton and awarded it ‘gold’ status, which will take the town through to Britain in Bloom.
Summarising the event, Rob Purdie made a pledge to town centre businesses, saying: “We pledge to focus on vacant town centre units and how we can best fill them, the Market Square and how we promote Northampton as a Shoe Town.