We want to hear local people\u2019s views on proposals to invest in Kingswood High Street through the West of England Combined Authority\u2019s (WECA) \u2018Love Our High Streets\u2019 project.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve submitted proposals to WECA worth up to \u00a33m and we want to use some of the funding to identify and support community-driven projects and priorities, so we are launching this consultation to gather the views and suggestions of local people.<\/p>\n
Our current suggestions for Kingswood High Street include funding to support:
\n\u2022 action to tackle empty premises
\n\u2022 delivery of a Makerspace Studio \u2013 a digital learning classroom in the high street, with a range of equipment for use by schools, families and anyone wanting to improve their career skills
\n\u2022 work to stabilise Whitfield Tabernacle and support a Heritage Lottery Fund bid to further improve the Tabernacle and bring it back into community use
\n\u2022 future planning of Kingswood urban area to provide new employment, new housing, public and green space and to improve existing heritage
\n\u2022 a range of community-led projects
\n\u2022 additional street cleaning machinery and new bins
\n\u2022 possible new infrastructure and community facilities for Kingswood Park and support for a separate Heritage Lottery Fund application.<\/p>\n
These proposals follow a considerable amount of work undertaken by the Council to explore some of the challenges facing urban high streets. The new Local Plan consultation document (published in February 2018) set out the Council\u2019s intentions for a \u2018new approach to urban living\u2019, \u2018identifying the potential to improve and restore the status and performance of the urban areas\u2019. The priority has also been recognised nationally by the Government who announced \u00a3675m of investment into a \u2018Future High Streets Fund\u2019 to \u2018help local leaders implement bold new visions to transform their town centres and make them fit for the future\u2019.<\/p>\n
Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr Toby Savage, said: “Communities across South Gloucestershire are seeing the benefits of our decision to accept the government’s devolution deal and create the Combined Authority.
\n\u201cThis latest investment from WECA provides us with an excellent opportunity to fund new and innovative proposals in the High Street which will benefit the local community.
\n\u201cThe funding would complement existing interventions that the Council and partner organisations were already making locally. We now want to hear local people\u2019s views on these proposals and about their priorities for further investment and then crack on with delivery.\u201d<\/p>\n
West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles said: \u201cI welcome this next stage in our Love our High Streets project as we work with our three constituent councils to transform key high streets and town centres across our region. I encourage people to take part in the consultation and share their thoughts on South Gloucestershire Council\u2019s proposals for how to give Kingswood High Street a boost.\u201d<\/p>\n
We would like to hear residents\u2019 views on the proposals by 6 March 2019.<\/p>\n