Gosport: 'Tough battle to turn the high street around'
But council bosses say they're determined
Turning an empty shop into a place for artists to put on events and activities, revamping a market and appointing a town centre manager are three of the ideas hoped to give a high street a new lease of life.
Gosport Borough Council has set out its vision for the town’s ‘declining’ high street following successful heritage restoration projects.
The government-funded High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme has helped ‘breathe new life’ into the high street.
In partnership with the council, Historical England has granted £1.78m to make the high street more attractive to businesses and residents.
So far the cash has funded the refurbishment of the stained glass canopy outside the Royal Arms Hotel, the reopening of the Gosport Museum and Art Gallery and hand-painted shop front signs.
Following a visit, Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, said it was a ‘pleasure’ to meet with Historic England and ‘learn more about their work with partners to improve our area’.
‘Backed by £1.78m of funding, these projects build on our rich heritage and are breathing new life into both Gosport High Street and Stoke Road.’
Council leader Peter Chegwyn said regenerating the high street is the council’s ‘number one priority’.
He added: ‘We’re determined to bring new life into the high street, sadly we don’t own premises there and we can’t force absent landlords out of them.
‘We’re planning a whole program of three events on the high street over the summer, a lot more street entertainment. Stuff for families and kids, all of which will be free.
‘We’re revamping the market which, like the high street, has been sadly declining for far too many years.
‘We’re appointing a new town manager with a clear brief to revamp the high street to try to attract new businesses in and talk to landlords to bring in their empty shops back to life.
‘We face a tough battle to turn our high street around – but we are determined.
‘It’s good to know Gosport’s MP is supporting Gosport Borough Council’s efforts to improve the High Street and surrounding area.
‘The council is working hard to bring new business activities and cultural events to the town centre, and the HSHAZ work is a very important part of this.’
The council has allocated a further £200,000 of its own funds, made available through grants, for more heritage and community work.
An empty shop in the high street is being transformed into the Imagination Refinery which allows local artists to put on events and activities for the community.