After discussions with retaillers in Andover, the Andover Summit Town Centre Management Working Group is investigating the funding of a Town Centre Manager.
If you are a local business and have not taken part in the town centre management survey or add your contact details so that you can be updated, you can at the follow addresses:
Survey: www.testvalley.gov.uk/tcmsurvey
Email: www.testvalley.gov.uk/businessemail
The Town Centre Management Working Group consists of local business leaders, Councillors and Council officers, and was one of five groups formed earlier this year following the Andover Summit.
Test Valley Borough Council Report
The Andover Summit town centre management working group has taken forward several initiatives in recent weeks. The views of retailers have been sought on rejuvenating the town. This has involved personal visits by the working group members to over 100 businesses to survey them on the possibility of jointly funding a Town Centre Manager and what the priorities of the role might be. This follows the summit agreeing to set up a working group to consider the various options for the future management of the town centre and pledges of financial support from the borough, county and town councils.
A Town Centre Manager’s (TCM) role would be to increase footfall to enhance Andover’s vibrancy and ensure the town and local businesses continue to thrive.
Working with local businesses, organisations and the public the TCM would develop an action plan to meet the needs of all users both now and in the future.
As part of building better links with the business community the group is also establishing an e-mail contacts list, which has so far seen over 30 businesses sign up. This list will be used to keep retailers informed about the outcomes from the five summit working groups, forthcoming events and activities in the town centre and as a quick route to seek their views on town centre issues.
Contact has also been made with over 80 businesses on the Estates Gazette retailer requirements listing who have expressed an interest in investigating premises in Andover. The approach seeks to establish their precise requirements and puts them in touch with local letting agents.
Councillor Ian Carr, Leader of the Council said: “It is vital that we work alongside local businesses as we continue the drive to address the priorities which emerged from the Andover Summit through the five working groups. I am grateful to the local businesses who have taken the time to respond.”
“I would encourage all Andover business to take the opportunity to let the working group know their views on the option of a Town Centre Manager and to share their e-mail address so that we can engage with them and keep them better informed about initiatives and events in the town. With the support of all in the town doing their bit I believe we can make a real difference.”
It is not too late for businesses that have not already done so to respond to the town centre management survey.
This can be completed online at: www.testvalley.gov.uk/tcmsurvey
or to add their e-mail address: www.testvalley.gov.uk/businessemail
The Town Centre Management Working Group consists of local business leaders, Councillors and Council officers, and was one of five groups formed earlier this year following the Andover Summit. The summit meeting identified priority actions to reinvigorate the town. The results of the TCM survey will be analysed and fed back in due course.
The remit of the group was to review the various options for the management of the town centre and seek to identify a common theme to foster a greater pride in the town.
