High Street Highlights:
Rogues Gallery:
Wilkinson’s
Seen something on High Street that you don’t like or feel
could be improved? Please send us an email or a photo
to [email protected]
A recent refurbishment
offered an opportunity to
emphasise the historic
character of the different
buildings that make up this
large retail unit.
Look above the shop’s signage and you will see each of
the four buildings have been painted in different shades to
highlight their different architectural styles and detailing.
Upcoming events:
• Free Window Dressing Course for High Street
Businesses - 24 April. To register your interest
please contact us on the details below.
• Have your say on the High Street Highway
Options - public consultation in the Summer
• Passageway Improvement Works - April/May
The Hobgoblin
Works have been undertaken
to secure the exterior of
this favourite public house
and enhance the handsome
Georgian façade, elevating
the property’s presence on
the High Street.
• Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (2-5 June)
• Olympic Torch Procession (8 July)
• Bedfringe (13-28 July)
• River Festival (21-22 July)
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The Kiln
An exciting new arrival,
the café and ceramics
workshop took the time and
care to reveal the building’s
secret features such as
two Victorian pillars and
an elegant circular recess
in the ceiling that now
accommodates a chandelier.
The high quality signage also presents the property in a
dynamic new light.
For more information
Nancy Falloon, THI Project Manager
Bedford Borough Council
Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street
Bedford MK42 9AP
(01234) 276258
(01234) 276265
@
[email protected]
www.bedford.gov.uk/bedfordhighstreet
ED014_12 [email protected]
www.bedford.gov.uk
Newsletter 3 - March 2012
The story so far…
Dave Hodgson, Mayor of Bedford
Borough, and MP Edward Davey
Bedford’s historic High Street has reason to start 2012
with a spring in its step as plans to revitalise the street are
moving on apace.
Having secured money from the Heritage Lottery Fund,
Bedford Borough Council and Bedford BID, the High
Street THI Scheme launched on 7 September, with
a fantastic turnout and plenty of interest from local
radio stations and newspapers. The launch took place
in a prominent empty High Street shop which is now
occupied, but there is still much to do to address the
amount of High Street vacancy.
Nancy Falloon has been appointed as project manager
to deliver the THI project and has met with businesses,
landlords and the public to discuss ways to get involved.
Nancy sees the project as a community venture and
is keen to get as many groups involved in the THI as
possible.
Several owners/leaseholders are now working towards
securing grant funding by appointing architects and
surveyors to manage the repair of their buildings,
reinstate lost or damaged architectural features and bring
vacant space back into use.
and market stalls on offer. It also allowed visitors to
explore the High Street without the rush and noise of
traffic, making for a more relaxed Christmas shopping
experience.
Christmas Market,
December 2011
services and real efforts to enhance the ‘retail experience’.
The THI project is seen as key to efforts to enhance the
profile of Bedford High Street as a local, regional and
even national destination.
High times for High Street:
With property owners getting involved with the THI
scheme as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the
Olympic torch procession, Bedfringe and the River
Festival, it is shaping up to be a busy year that will draw
crowds to the town centre. The High Street really has a
chance to shine.
In November, the High Street played host to a visit
from MP Edward Davey, acting as advisor to the Prime
Minister on current hot topic – the plight of Britain’s
High Streets. On the day of the visit, TV’s Mary Portas
published her report, setting out a raft of ideas for
bringing money and life back into town centres. See her
recommendations at www.maryportas.com
We are encouraging High Street businesses to think
of ways to better promote themselves and to give their
premises a fresh lick of paint to attract some of those
extra visitors into their shops. A retail window dressing
course will be running for High Street businesses in April.
The Council is also on hand to advise you on ways to
improve and update your signage and how to apply for
required permissions, so please do get in touch!
MP Edward Davey was impressed by how many of the
recommendations were being undertaken already in
Bedford, with a fantastic array of independent shops and
The Victorian Fair & Market saw an increase in footfall
on the High Street of 67% (compared to the previous
weekend), with visitors enjoying the shops, cafes
The passageways:
We all know that some of the High Street’s passageways
can be a bit unsavoury, so plans are afoot to enhance
these vital access ways. The Council is arranging for the
removal of the grime and dirt and improvements to the
lighting. The next step is exploring with Bedford College
whether these passageways offer interesting artistic
possibilities to reinforce local identity and create well
loved and better respected public spaces.
Vacancy above the shops:
A big challenge on the High Street is the number of
unoccupied upper floors. Vacancy often leads to neglect
and problems such as leaks go unnoticed until they
require significant and expensive repairs to remedy. The
THI is encouraging property owners to think about new
ways to use these spaces. If you have vacant space that
you are not sure what to do with, please get in touch, we
will be happy to discuss the options with you.