Our Town Centre traders have so much to offer: Welcome back

In this month's column for Bedford Bulletin and Kempston Calling Mayor Dave Hodgson has written about our town centres. You can read the column below:

Our Town Centre traders have so much to offer: Welcome back

This month will see the second anniversary of the first Coronavirus lockdown, announced on 23rd March 2020.

It's been a tough two years. Tough for everyone, and tough on our local businesses and town centres. Not only were people unable to shop or enjoy our outstanding independent businesses freely over the last two years, but many were forced to change their shopping behaviour: a temporary move online for some, and some changes that may be permanent.

But after a number of false dawns, now is the time to discover and rediscover the town centres.

With footfall gradually returning, shops reporting an increase in spend, and events and markets kicking off we can say: welcome back to all.

Key workers, council staff, shops, market traders, all our local businesses, and our many wonderful independent retailers have all worked hard throughout the pandemic to ensure the town centres are safe and clean environments for people to shop-in, visit, meet friends and have fun; and many of these shops and market traders have literally been a lifeline for people.

Now is the time to explore and discover Bedford.

Despite national chains going bust across the UK, in Bedford we have seen new businesses arrive including a new B&M, Cat Café, Carumbar, Hippy Wytch Cottage, and a new Waterstones location in the Town Centre and Bridges, Naughty Pizza and most recently Foxy Wings opening at Riverside Bedford. The old Arcade is almost completely full and St Cuthbert's Street, Howard Street, Mill Street and St Peter's Street are thriving hubs of independent businesses.

More businesses are on the way and the Council has also been busy:

We have widened the pavements on the High Street to improve access and safety for pedestrians, reduced the speed along the High Street to 20mph making it safer for cyclists and other road users, and improved Silver Street Square and Allhallows making both areas nicer to visit and spend time in.

Town Centres and Planning Portfolio Holder Councillor Henry Vann and I have been working closely with Love Bedford, the Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) and Historic England to restore our beautiful High Street Architecture.

Work on this "High Street Heritage Action Zone" has begun, and if you pop into town, you will see scaffolding up at the Blue Monk, 19-21 High Street. This project will also see works at 58A, B and C High Street, the buildings on the northern side of Silver Street Square. These improvements will include the creation of two additional smaller retail units helping Bedford's businesses, start-ups and outstanding independents to grow. The Goldings building will see the reinstatement of a traditional shop front and lost architectural features.

We have also been supporting projects and events through my Town Centre Priority Fund to help bring more people into the town centre: This has including helping to fund the new green wall at St Cuthbert's Arcade, Christmas lights in Mill Street, a successful Jamaican Independence Day, Music in the Meadows, the Green Earth Market, and support for Fiver Fest and a number of projects with Bedford Creative Arts and the Place Theatre as well as investing in new market stands for specialist and visiting markets such as the outstanding Bedford Flea, Affordable Art & Local Produce Market. More on the way!

On top of this, we have been successful in securing £22.6 million from the Government to regenerate the Station Quarter and Midland Road, improve St. Paul's Square and improve local pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, as well as two major junctions. The Town Investment Plan also includes a new health, science and digital skills centre at Bedford College enabling them to offer spaces to an additional 250 learners and improve the learning environment for current students.

Sadly, the Government rejected our application for £15million of Levelling-up funding for Kempston, deciding to spend the money elsewhere instead.

But there is everything else that we have protected: libraries are open again, alongside an outstanding set of museums, the Corn Exchange and other theatres so why not taken the opportunity to visit the library or one of the museums - there is sure to be something new.

And finally… in amongst all of this, new dropped kerbs, secure cycle parking, more cycling infrastructure, frozen parking charges, new loading bays for shoppers and a continuation of free 2-hours parking in all town centre car parks on a Saturday and 2 hours free every day in Queen Street Car Park have made our town centre increasingly accessible.

There really is no excuse not to support our town centres.

They have so much to offer; thank you to everyone who was able to support them during the pandemic, and before, and welcome back to those who are now rediscovering our town centres.