Shops and high street businesses are being urged to take part in an online survey on the Wealden website, www.wealden.gov.uk, to give their views how best to promote Wealden’s high streets.
The Streets Ahead 2014 survey has been organised by Wealden District Council’s Streets Ahead Project, in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses, to help identify the key factors that make up the local economy of the District’s towns and villages.
“Shops and businesses understand best the business pulse of their local community,” said Councillor Roy Galley, Cabinet member for Economic Development and Regeneration.
“Their opinion is very important. We hope they will find time to complete our short questionnaire which will help identify where and what sort of support is best suited to help sustain and develop our high streets, making them an attractive and welcoming experience for residents and visitors.
Streets Ahead is focussing on defining and improving the business opportunities for 14 towns and large villages in the District. They are:
Alfriston, Crowborough, Forest Row, Hailsham, Heathfield, Herstmonceux, Horam, Mayfield, Pevensey Bay, Polegate, Rotherfield, Uckfield, Wadhurst and Willingdon.
Each has its own identity and makes a unique contribution to the Wealden economy. Where resources allow, the Council’s Streets Ahead team is hoping to deliver some copies of the survey to individual businesses, but we are hoping as many as possible will complete the survey online. It can be found on the Streets Ahead pages of the Wealden website, www.wealden.gov.uk/streetsahead or by emailing streestahead@wealden.gov.uk.
The closing date for the survey is Sunday 30 November. All data collected will be treated in confidence.
“If we are going to work together to revitalise our high streets and town centres, we need to hear from as many traders as possible,” said Martin Searle of the East Sussex branch of the Federation of Small Businesses. “We can only make a difference if we all work together to pool our knowledge and ideas. So please make a point of taking part in the Streets Ahead 2014 Survey. It will only take 15 minutes of your time.”
Streets Ahead is a councillor-led initiative looking at ways Wealden can support and revitalise its local communities. Its five main objectives are to:
• Support local high street regeneration efforts.
• Assist with district wide joined up strategic solutions.
• Stimulate supporting economic growth.
• Improve perceptions of Wealden’s high streets.
• Position Wealden as a leader of innovative high street regeneration.
For more information about the Federation of Small Businesses in East Sussex, visit www.fsb.org.uk/eastsussex of telephone 01323 482018.
