Basingstoke's top of the town improvement plan
Council publishes action plan
Basingstoke’s Top of the Town is set to benefit from a package of improvements aimed at breathing new life into the area and enhancing its vibrancy.
Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has developed an action plan setting out a series of enhancements to be made to the area, while longer term options for the town centre are explored.
The council say the plan focuses on measures to make sure the Top of the Town is a welcoming place for residents, businesses and visitors and celebrates the heritage of the area.
This includes plans to improve the environment with a deep clean, repainting safety railings, enhanced schedule of street cleaning, maintenance of green spaces and planters, and exploring options for decorative lighting and extra planting.
The council is also set to launch a new grant scheme to encourage business owners to improve and maintain their shop fronts and is exploring other initiatives to encourage shoppers to visit the Top of the Town.
To support a thriving café culture in the Top of the Town, the council is making it easier for businesses to have outdoor seating areas by reducing the level of public liability insurance required. And working with venues in the Top of the Town, the council will also encourage more live music to enhance the arts and culture scene in the area.
Welcoming
The borough council’s Cabinet Member for Major Projects and Regeneration Cllr Onnalee Cubitt said:
“The success of the Top of the Town is incredibly important to us. We want it to be vibrant and welcoming for residents and visitors alike.
“We love our town centre but we know that investment is much needed. We are passionately committed to working with businesses and share their desire to move forward together and deliver improvements that will shape the look and feel of the area.
“And that is why we are taking action now and over the course of the next 12 months to support businesses to create a Top of the Town that we can all be proud of.”
For more information, visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/towncentrefuture