Thame’s ‘top tips’ for high streets

AS one of the ‘Rising Star High Streets’ in The Great British High Street of the Year Awards 2015, the team behind Thame’s entry was asked to contribute to the recently published  Good Practice Guide for future contestants, councils, businesses, town teams, community groups and interested volunteers who want their high streets to be ‘the best that they can be.’

Thame’s Top Tips are included in the chapter on Partnership Promotion. They are mostly based on comments contributed by the district council at the time when Thame’s Neighbourhood Plan, the first in the UK to be adopted following community consultation, was passed.

Thame’s Top Tips

1. Set aside past differences. Communities are more prepared to enter into positive dialogue with local authorities if on an equal footing.

2. Trust communities and build bridges early. This way plans can fulfill their potential and planning officers have a framework for determining planning applications.

3. Always stay involved in the process. Even if everything appears under control, this helps to ensure the plan doesn’t go off course.

4. Keep people informed. Get them to understand the power granted to communities. This helps ensure good advice is provided when communities interested in neighbourhood planning approach their councils.

5. Ensure enough volunteers to carry out consultations. Seek professional advice on the technical aspects of preparing a plan.

The Great British High Street Awards 2015 sought to recognise that the high street is ‘the life and soul of cities, towns and villages across the country supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and offering a much valued social space.’

Last year, 230 high streets battled it out to be crowned Britain’s best. Of these, there were 21 finalists with seven winners in seven categories. Although Thame wasn’t one of the seven winners, our High Street was named as one of 10 Rising Stars across the UK.

Helen Johns, who coordinated Thame’s 2015 entry, said: “We intend to improve on this in 2016 by being recognised as a finalist and hopefully a winner in the market town category. The 2016 competition details are yet to be announced – so watch this space!”