There has been much controversial conversation surrounding the roadworks in Hailsham which began a year ago, halted for Bonfire season, then Christmas and then continued in earnest since the New Year.
People are still scratching their heads as to how the High Street is changing and what this means for the town and whether these changes will actually benefit at a cost which is just as mind-boggling.
The real problem is understanding what changes are occurring and the reasons behind them are still misunderstood and why officials are taking away parking in the High Street and the diversions which are taking place whilst the works are in progress.
However, in December 2012 Mary Portas (Queen of the High Street) was commissioned by the then Prime Minister, David Cameron, together with Hailsham Town Council and the local Chamber of Commerce the decision was taken to form a Town Team (Hailsham Forward), which was set up to take a closer look at ways to revitalise the town’s High Street and surrounding urban environment, increase footfall and spend within the town.
Hailsham Forward is a five-year initiative which aims to include a pedestrian-friendly High Street, parking time restrictions, the creation of loading bays in the town centre, traffic wardens, a review of business rates and shop rents, improvements to shop frontages and signage, and the attraction and retention of a broader diversity of retail outlets (independent national/chain) to fill empty retail units in the town centre.
Hailsham Forward Partnership (Town Team), was born out of Mary Portas’ initiative for transforming town centres nationally for modern needs. The group has received £10,000 funding from the Government for projects to benefit the local business community. The Partnership is made up of local people and organisations including the local Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Local Councils, Hailsham Youth Council and Hailsham’s MP.
The Partnership is already working on a number of projects, including a forthcoming online shopping guide and a street market, established last year. The latest initiative is the Pop Up Shop which aims to keep small businesses trading by taking up short lets within an otherwise would-be empty shop. This provides an inexpensive way to provide a shopfront to businesses who would not normally be able to trade in this way.
The roadworks in Hailsham Town are scheduled to be completed on Friday 11th August 2017.
