Lib Dem Initiative for a Vibrant Town Centre

Lib Dem councillors have challenged the council to foster a more vibrant town centre.

A motion to council in July suggests that a Town Centre Manager be appointed, that the market operates on a daily basis, that improved recycling collections are put in place for shops and that an information exchange is set up to help local businesses.

Cllr Alison Kelly, who proposed the motion, explains "We used to have a Town Centre Manager and it's now really important to have someone coordinate and drive forward trade initiatives." The Lib Dems campaigned on improved recycling and waste collection for shops and businesses, very few of which recycle at all. The market came back under borough council control in April and the council is known to be keen to develop a Sunday market and encourage local businesses, community groups and independent traders to take a regular pitch. The monthly Farmers' Market will continue but as Cllr Kelly says "There are three other Sundays in each month when the market place isn't used, plus some weekdays. Themed markets are becoming very popular and our pitches are not expensive. This is all about involving local tradespeople in our market and promoting local small businesses."

As far as the information exchange is concerned, the Lib Dems want to champion the use of local suppliers, producers and growers. Cllr Colin Taylor, who seconded the motion to council, commented "Sometimes it's really simple to put a local trader in touch with a local supplier but it seems there's really no mechanism at the moment to catalogue the required information. Creating a database could not only reduce the costs and environmental impact of purchasing from afar, but also create a community which becomes more self-sufficient and inherently more profitable."

Not to be outdone, the ruling Residents Party posed a formal question to themselves at the same council meeting - on the same subject. (Questions are submitted a week after a motion becomes public). The reply to their question stated that all the measures the Lib Dems were asking for were already in hand!

Any resident or business interested in knowing more about how the markets are developing can ring 01372 732520 for more information.