LB First Column: Are we talking to the right experts?

It's been fascinating talking to customers and hearing their thoughts and opinions on Central Beds Council’s Local Plan and the town council's neighbourhood plan consultation. There's been lot's of passion and anger expressed along with apathy, disappointment and nostalgia. A sense of not being listened to or a tick box exercise can lead to a feeling of the system is broken and democracy not working. But things could be different if both local authorities worked more closely together and saw the Land South of the High Street as a real opportunity and be the catalyst to enhance, transform and reinvigorate the town centre making it a go to destination.

Perhaps the answer lies in speaking to the right kind of architects who understand what local residents and business owners have been saying, mainly because they've had lots of experience with these sorts of projects in other parts of the country. One example is Jan Kattein of Jan Kattein Architects, he said "We shouldn't be converting everything to residential, we need public spaces that have a civic sense. If there's a shop that's empty for a year and then another for half a year suddenly the street feels on a fast slope to half broken, that leads to a sense that things aren't working and things are in a terrible state. For that reason it's important that the high street performs the job of being a democratic civic space that feels alive. He went on to say "The conversation has broadened to move workspaces, cultural organisations and healthcare into town centres". Selina Mason, director of masterplanning and strategic design at Lenslease said "To have a market is like gold dust really, it creates a destination, town markets have an ability like glue that brings society together."

Gort Scott has worked extensively through its work as consultant for the Greater London Authority's Tomorrow's Market 2.0 research and advisory programme aiming to increase the resilience of street markets. Their report includes a guide to developing and delivering a market strategy built around 3 components: identity and offer, market management and operations and logistics, identifying a markets USP. There's certainly lots we could learn by asking the right people.

For more information contact Gennaro on 01525 854273 and LB First Facebook page.