Council urges people to have their say on town centres

More than 900 people have had their say so far on the future of the town centres in the Malvern Hills District.

Malvern Hills District Council launched a consultation at the end of September to gather views to guide its five town centre transformation plans. These will be for Barnards Green, Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Tenbury Wells and Upton upon Severn.

The deadline for responses is 31 December and the council is urging residents, businesses, town centre traders and visitors to take part and give their views. They are also encouraging young people to have their say.

The questions ask how people are using their high streets, what improvements are needed and what can be done to support businesses on the high street now and in the future.

The town centre transformation plans will set out a vision for the future of each retail centre, identifying the different challenges facing each one and the opportunities available. They will then be used to attract inward investment from both the public and commercial sector, as well as guide planning decisions.

The results of the consultation will be ready in January and it is aimed that the plans will be signed off by spring 2022.

The plans are part of the council's Five Year Plan commitment to help revitalise the town centres as they come under attack from the rise of online competitors, out of town retail parks and changing consumer habits.

Cllr Daniel Walton, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development on Malvern Hills District Council, added: "We've had an amazing response to the consultation so far and we want to keep that momentum going. We are urging anyone that hasn't taken part to take ten minutes out of their day to answer the survey or add a comment to the ideas board. The results will help guide the town centre transformation plans which will set out a vision for the future".

Visit letstalk.malvernhills.gov.uk/towncentres to take part in the consultation.