The High Street Strategy Working Group – First Meeting Update

Following up on our blog: “Why does Cricklade need a High Street Strategy?”, this is to provide an update of our first meeting of the High Street Strategy group, which was set up by the Society and included representation from Cricklade Town Council.

All members of the group felt strongly about the importance of maintaining a vibrant High Street for Cricklade. To this end, the following objectives for the group were agreed:

• Maintain a vibrant and viable High Street at the heart of Cricklade
• Retain Cricklade’s role as a Service Centre to continue to meet the needs of residents and surrounding villages
• Enhance the look and feel of the High Street within the conservation area
• Attract more people to Cricklade
• Identify needs of both businesses and users of the High Street

Stating our objectives is the first step, but now they will need to be translated into action. To do this, we will need to become much more assertive as a community and be willing to play our part. You can help by taking part in the various surveys we will be undertaking this year, which will help us to provide an evidential base for our recommendations. Your input will be vitally important to ensuring our strategy has both credibility and clout with key decision makers in local authorities and funding organisations.

Our first survey will be launched in the Spring and will focus on those businesses that make their living from trading in commercial premises on the High Street. We want to learn about the benefits and challenges of trading on the High Street, and how it can be improved. This survey should provide a valuable insight into what life is like for our local businesses. It’s therefore important that as many businesses as possible take part and have their say.

If you are a business owner In the High Street and wish to learn more, then please get in touch via our contact page and/or come along to our AGM at Cricklade Town Hall on the 31 March at 7.30pm; we will be delighted to meet you!

Terri Robertson
Chair, High Street Strategy Group