Action Groups

town centre revitalisation - progress on the work that flowed from the healthcheck

This project comes from the work identified under the Tourism, Transport and Business Development areas. The Town Centre is a very visible sign of the vitality of the community and the centre for retail business.

The Project
	To work with all concerned to improve all aspects of the town centre mainly:
		its appearance the use of retail businesses
	This project will operate in the short, medium and long term and benefit from Whitchurch Association's ability to access funds which may not be available to individuals or individual businesses
Short Term - 2005
	In order to improve the town centre's appearance and utilisation and demonstrate the viability of Town Action Plan projects, the team is planning a series of events in December aimed at:
		Brightening up the town centre at the darkest time of the year Attracting visitors and shoppers to the town's retail businesses Re-establishing Whitchurch as the local place to shop Raising the profile of the Whitchurch Association
Medium Term - 2006
	Improve the appearance of town centre properties Improve utilisation of town centre facilities
Long Term - 2006 +
	To have all town centre business premises occupied and thriving
Progress to Date
	*Christmas in Whitchurch* has been established as the working title of the short term project 15 business, 6 local groups and members of the Whitchurch Association are actively working on a programme of activities from the end of November until Christmas. These will build on events already planned such as Santa at the Mill and the Combined Churches Carol Singing. Other local businesses and groups are being contacted to get them involved Meetings are taking place weekly in the Town Hall at 6.30pm on Tuesday evenings to plan the events in detail.
Those involved
	Businesses
		Brockenhurst Estate Agents Cenuplex Flower Power G Dowling & Son Gladstone's House n Home Karen Jarmarkier Newbury Building Society Over My Shoulder Redwoods Estate Agents Serenity Health and Beauty Somerfield Tesco The Old Paper Shop The Silk Mill all other town centre businesses are being actively pursued
	Groups
		1^st Whitchurch Guides Anglican Church Baptist Church Library Millennium Meadow Testbourne Community School PTFA Whitchurch Primary School the following are being approached:
			Ladies Singing For Fun Fire Brigade Band Salvation Army WADS
Activities being investigated
	Decoration of Town Centre - Illuminated Christmas Trees on brackets above shop fronts Town Centre activities - dates currently identified are 3 & 17 Dec, some of the activities are already planned by groups, the aim is to produce a full and co-ordinated programme:
			Carol Singing Brass Band Music Hot/Warm Food and Drink - Hot chestnuts, mince pies, punch Competitions - Children's shop window hunt, shopkeepers' best window display, best photograph of Christmas in Whitchurch Shopkeepers in costume
	Advertising - To promote the activities above and any other group's or business' events during the *Christmas in Whitchurch* period - Town Centre posters (kindly reproduced by Brockenhurst), road side signs, newspapers, this website, flyers distributed to households
Next Meeting - 6.30pm Tuesday 1 November, Town Hall. Phone Stewart Parrington on 892524, Tony Corbin or leave a message at the Town Hall on 892107 if you are interested or have an idea. Notes of previous meetings are here 18 Oct, 25 Oct, 1 Nov, 22 Jan 2006 The initial presentation given by Tony and Stewart is here

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