'People don't use high streets the way they did in the 50s' Call for futuristic town centre vision in Central Bedfordshire

A vision of urban parks replacing high streets is preferred by Central Bedfordshire Council’s executive member for sustainability and climate resilience, and Independent Potton councillor Tracey Wye.

Responding to a motion calling on the local authority to declare ‘a high street emergency’, councillor Wye told its executive: “It doesn’t sit well with me at all.

“I don’t the like the idea of there being a high street emergency,” she explained. “What we need with our high streets is a reimagination. I don’t think people use high streets in the way they did in the 1950s.

“Are we looking to preserve the past? I think we need to move into the future. It doesn’t just need to be about retail. I’ve a vision of urban parks, instead of high streets.

“We pedestrianise. There would be trees, play areas and fountains, making it a place to go where shops are, where entertainment is, where nature is, where there are opportunities to meet and socialise without having to spend any money.

“What’s the emergency?” she asked, “That some shops aren’t working because nobody is shopping in them any more. People’s habits have changed.

“Any reimagination of what this space is used for in the heart of our communities needs to come from residents living there. It can be a slow and organic growth into visualising the high street into something else that has shops along with other functions.

“The intent I agree with. Something needs to change from a high street full of cars, belched out emissions, angry people looking for parking spaces, with a few shops which don’t sell anything you want. It’s all vapes and Turkish barbers.

“If we don’t want that, we need to work on changing it. Independent shops in a space that’s safe for your kids to run around and perhaps a swing.”

Liberal Democrat Leighton Linslade South councillor Emma Holland-Lindsay’s motion from full council also asked CBC for “an action plan to bring together all the threads of work the council is doing and could be doing”.

She suggested “new housing in Leighton Buzzard has failed to bring with it regeneration or inward investment into our town centre”, saying: “There’s more we can do to guide policy development on this topic.

“I don’t think the CBC strategic plan quite tackles this issue. I would welcome the executive endorsing a town centre regeneration first approach.

“It doesn’t have to involve a financial cost, but it’s making sure that’s front of mind when making decisions. My challenge is really how we use available levers more effectively, while recognising the financial challenges we face.”

Executive member for assets, business and housing, and Independent Biggleswade West councillor Steve Watkins replied: “There’s plenty of work going in around growth and inward investment to support vibrant town centres.

“Unfortunately we’re unable to benefit from the UK shared prosperity fund in future years. We distributed millions of pounds via initial grants for Biggleswade, Flitwick, Houghton Regis, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard, and later to Sandy, Ampthill, Potton and Shefford.

“It certainly helps improve the local high street through town centre wifi, public toilet renovation and street furniture. Despite that funding having stopped, we’ve commissioned town centre benchmarking surveys for the larger towns and some villages.

“These will measure footfall, monitor the number of empty (shop) units and measure car park usage. We’ll canvass the views of businesses and visitors to understand the relative strengths and weaknesses of these locations.”

The executive backed the motion, with five votes in favour and one abstention.