ISSUES a new task force set up to revitalise Hyde’s town centre have been prioritised by people who will sit on it.
The High Street Task Force team, established after the area became one of 70 in England to qualify, will work towards bringing plans and projects together as one.
And local councillors have outlined things they would like to see worked on – the old library site and the Market Square.
Labour’s Peter Robinson said: “Obviously the library site!
“Hyde town hall and the Market Square and also the market itself – stalls v pop up market.
“Also, finding a solution to better link between the Town Hall and the market.”
Conservatives Phil Chadwick and Ruth Welsh added: “We welcome any support or investment into Hyde town centre but before we do this we need an up to date Town Plan.
“One so Hyde town centre can have a selection of businesses, not the same – for example multiple pharmacies, takeaways, supermarkets, bookmakers, hairdressers/barbers.
“We need a vision, someone in the growth department who knows what they’re doing to target the big businesses to come to Hyde.
“And local people and local businesses, those who actually have an idea, must be involved in this.
“We cannot keep going round in circles and revamping town centres by people who have no idea what they are doing.”
A document seen by The Correspondent in preparation for the task force being created shows Hyde is classed as a major town because of its 270 retail units.
However, footfall declined by 36 per cent during the period from January – October 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
It also states: “In the short-term, places need a recovery plan to help mitigate against the devastating effects on local businesses and the community.”
It also advised Tameside Council on what it should be doing by adding: “We suggest your plans for transformation make explicit references to all the challenges identified, i.e. income, employment, education, skills and training, health deprivation and disability, crime, and living environment).
“By explicit references we mean identifying how deprived Hyde Town Centre is.
“There’s a strong focus on declining retail offer and increasing vacancy rates. This, however, is not linked to broader challenges that might be causing these issues, such as income or employment deprivation that place your town centre amongst the 30 per cent most deprived.
“It is important you work in partnership with all the groups/initiatives in the town that can bring additional capacity too.
“We recommend you work immediately with relevant partners to review the current challenges and your current vision/ambition for the town/high street, in light of the feedback in this report.
“Better places come from council, business and the community working in partnership.”
Tameside Council has showed its intent by setting up the task force including itself, local businesses and organisations and other stakeholders – a masterplan will be created.
They will advise on the town centre masterplan and seek out and feedback local opinions on plans for Hyde town centre.
It said: “By building stronger partnerships between the council, businesses and the wider community there will be more capacity to make change in the town.”
Cllr Oliver Ryan, executive member for finance and economic growth, said: “By implementing these recommendations we are providing Hyde with a structure of strong partnerships that can progress the town centre masterplan.
“We’re lucky to have such ambitious stakeholders and local organisations working alongside the High Street Task Force to create this masterplan and make Hyde town centre somewhere we can all be proud of.”