On the 27th January 2014, I started a facebook group dedicated to the growth of my local High Street in Denbigh in North Wales. Since that time, 460 local people have joined the group but I am more interested in the effect on our High Street. I am happy to say that since then, my local High Street has become progressively more vibrant. The site of the former Woolworth's still remains vacant but there has been much about which to become more optimistic.
Initially, the facebook site became something of a talking shop in which local people cited those areas which were sadly missing fro our high street. The suggestions which came forward were a revelation as a wide variety of local people pointed to the types of shop they would support if such shops were here. On balance, it's fair to say that the independent retail sector in Denbigh has flourished in the last year with a number of new shops opening all of whom are catering well to a hungry market.
The events organised by local people have played a large part in this renewed energy and each event seems to give fresh impetus to the town. The recent investment in signposting the castle are to be applauded. After years of insufficient marketing, we now have a castle whose location is more obvious to visitors to the town. As they say, "If you've got it, flaunt it!". Any other town with a castle like ours would be shouting about it from the roof tops because aside from it's stunning views over the Vale of Clwyd and the town itself, the castle in Denbigh is dripping in charm.
Of the many new retail projects which have blossomed during the last year, I am particularly pleased to see the Farmer's Market growing so well on the first Saturday of every month. For the past few months, we have been receiving all our fruit and vegetables from a local grower in Prion and the taste and flavour are a revelation. This is localism at it's very best.
When it came to buying gifts for Christmas this year, the swathe of new shops made the experience even better. We've had a far better choice of affordable, original gifts this year being able to choose between local artisans and independent retailers. Overall, Denbigh High Street feels like a good place to be with a rosy future ahead.
The number and quality of local events just gets better and better. On St. David's day, we had lovely spring sunshine and the locals came out in force to make the day a memorable one for retailers and families alike. The recently revived Carnival was equally blessed with the most gorgeous summer weather imaginable. The organisers of both events deserve the highest praise. The same goes to the organisers of the Denbigh Plum festival and the Christmas Extravaganza. A screening of "Frozen" was provided for local children in the town hall at very low cast and one local retailer even went so far as to provide free popcorn and hotdogs for them.
Toward the end of 2014, news filtered through that the former site of the Kwik Save store was to be redeveloped with the national retailer "Home Bargains" coming to the town. Although I have reservations about that news, there is one definite plus if it transpires. It gives local people one less reason to leave the town to spend their money. That is the bottom line for our High Street to survive - we need to keep improving the retail offering for our local shoppers. But, as has been said so many times before, the local people also need to keep supporting it as much as they can.
The change during the last year has been so positive, I would like to change the name of the facebook group to "Available in Denbigh" but regrettably, facebook rules dictate that any group with more than 250 members can't do so. I look forward to watching another exciting year in my home town with local people playing the central role in the regeneration of their local town.
Initially, the facebook site became something of a talking shop in which local people cited those areas which were sadly missing fro our high street. The suggestions which came forward were a revelation as a wide variety of local people pointed to the types of shop they would support if such shops were here. On balance, it's fair to say that the independent retail sector in Denbigh has flourished in the last year with a number of new shops opening all of whom are catering well to a hungry market.
The events organised by local people have played a large part in this renewed energy and each event seems to give fresh impetus to the town. The recent investment in signposting the castle are to be applauded. After years of insufficient marketing, we now have a castle whose location is more obvious to visitors to the town. As they say, "If you've got it, flaunt it!". Any other town with a castle like ours would be shouting about it from the roof tops because aside from it's stunning views over the Vale of Clwyd and the town itself, the castle in Denbigh is dripping in charm.
Of the many new retail projects which have blossomed during the last year, I am particularly pleased to see the Farmer's Market growing so well on the first Saturday of every month. For the past few months, we have been receiving all our fruit and vegetables from a local grower in Prion and the taste and flavour are a revelation. This is localism at it's very best.
When it came to buying gifts for Christmas this year, the swathe of new shops made the experience even better. We've had a far better choice of affordable, original gifts this year being able to choose between local artisans and independent retailers. Overall, Denbigh High Street feels like a good place to be with a rosy future ahead.
The number and quality of local events just gets better and better. On St. David's day, we had lovely spring sunshine and the locals came out in force to make the day a memorable one for retailers and families alike. The recently revived Carnival was equally blessed with the most gorgeous summer weather imaginable. The organisers of both events deserve the highest praise. The same goes to the organisers of the Denbigh Plum festival and the Christmas Extravaganza. A screening of "Frozen" was provided for local children in the town hall at very low cast and one local retailer even went so far as to provide free popcorn and hotdogs for them.
Toward the end of 2014, news filtered through that the former site of the Kwik Save store was to be redeveloped with the national retailer "Home Bargains" coming to the town. Although I have reservations about that news, there is one definite plus if it transpires. It gives local people one less reason to leave the town to spend their money. That is the bottom line for our High Street to survive - we need to keep improving the retail offering for our local shoppers. But, as has been said so many times before, the local people also need to keep supporting it as much as they can.
The change during the last year has been so positive, I would like to change the name of the facebook group to "Available in Denbigh" but regrettably, facebook rules dictate that any group with more than 250 members can't do so. I look forward to watching another exciting year in my home town with local people playing the central role in the regeneration of their local town.
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