AMBITIOUS plans to transform Westbury town centre received a seal of approval from town councillors last week.
Westbury Town Council has produced a Vision for Westbury document which outlines a wide range of ideas for Westbury’s future.
The Vision includes a plan to regenerate the town centre and councillors gave this unanimous backing at a Highways, Planning & Development Committee (HP&D) meeting on Monday 18th October.
If the decision is ratified by the full council, work will then start on identifying the resources, budgets and grant funding required to deliver the project.
Amongst the ideas being considered are:
• Employ a town centre / community engagement manager.
• Pedestrianise the High Street, with increased planting, and seating.
• Provide free town WiFi.
• Remove obstacles (rotunda) and make Westbury High Street a natural place for festival/music.
• Develop the library into an arts and community hub with a large double story extension (café/performance area /workspace/ history & tourism).
• Weekly market (in hand).
• Monthly food stalls in the centre with music.
• Install electric power supply (for traders/events) in the High Street.
• Refurbish buildings in the High Street.
• Offer grants to improve shop fronts in the High Street/Angel Mill.
• Reverse traffic – Maristow Street.
• Work with Morrisons to turn a one-dimensional wall into an art space / green wall, see example www.lukeembden.co.uk; UK Green Wall Association | Facades | Living Walls (urbangreening.info).
• Investigate if compulsory purchase of the BT building possible (workspace/pop up shops)?
• Would the council consider purchasing empty retail outlets, refurbish and let out at reduced rates to encourage new business?
• Enforce the “fly tipping” rules in retail service areas at the back of retail units.