How do we save our High Streets was the basis of an event at The Orbit in Wellington.
Guest speakers and networking was the order of the day at the Orbit where ideas were bounced around at a special seminar organised by Good 2 Great, the topic was our High Streets.
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00:00So we're here in Wellington, outside the Orbit, and Johnny Thiemans, you represent Good to Great?
00:05Yes I do, yeah.
00:06What's been happening here today then, Johnny?
00:07So we've been running a, it's been a seminar, and we've had people from various towns all over the place,
00:13we've had some great speakers, coming to a real sort of brains trust really,
00:17about how we can just make our high streets and our towns better places to live and do business,
00:21and you know, all of that really.
00:23Yeah. So Steve, you've travelled from Manchester?
00:26Yep.
00:27And so you've thrashed it out in there, so you've got the answers, are we saving it?
00:32Well yeah, that is, I think we do have the answers, we know what the problems are,
00:35and we know what the solutions are, but something seems to stop change from happening,
00:39and that's kind of the work I've been doing for the High Streets Taskforce for England,
00:43has been trying to get at that, what are the local barriers,
00:46and what needs to be removed to enable more change,
00:49and sometimes people get kind of fixated on big projects,
00:52but actually it could be the little things, like are the shops open at the right time?
00:56Are the windows of the shops dressed? Do they look inviting?
01:00Is there enough events and activities?
01:03Some of the simple things, which are really achievable,
01:06are often very, very important to keep places vibrant and thriving,
01:11and that's what I talk about.
01:12Yeah. And you represent, sir?
01:15So I'm from Shrewsbury Bid, so I represent traders from the counter town just down the road,
01:19and yeah, it's been a great morning actually, just sort of connecting with other bid managers,
01:23other people involved in place, and just sort of hearing how people are doing,
01:28and some new ideas. It's always good to share best practice.
01:31Oh, non-taste change, really cool.
01:32Things we haven't thought about, but that have worked really well, are transferable,
01:35so yeah, a really positive morning.
01:37Yeah. And good all-round then, Johnny, yeah, some interesting ideas,
01:41good to get together, isn't it, really?
01:42And, you know, different experiences, different cities, towns, and see what's...
01:45Yeah, definitely, and there's people from other councils,
01:49there's people from, you know, other bid organisations,
01:52there's people from central government departments as well,
01:55and they're all coming here, and they've just finished in there with great ideas,
01:59and now they're actually going and walking around the town,
02:01and they've just gone off to look at Wellington Market,
02:03just everybody's really desperate and thirsty for solutions and ideas
02:07and things that they can implement and do in their towns right now,
02:10because everybody wants where they live to be a better place.