Future economic planning for market towns

A WORKSHOP, designed to lay the ground for future economic development of the Market Towns of South Oxfordshire, took place this morning.
In welcoming delegates from local businesses, town and parish councils, organisations and individuals, SODC’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Rodney Mann, said that it was “critical” that an economic development strategy be formed for each of the three market towns in the district – Thame, Wallingford and Henley – if they were to thrive into the future.

After some group discussion about what the key elements of a thriving market town were, it became clear that the major themes were:

Shops (“the retail offer”)
Distinctiveness
Identity
Housing – affordable for younger people
Balanced community
Feelings of ‘belonging’- cohesiveness, vibrancy
Good transport links
Parking
Events – a public space to hold them
Markets
‘Liveliness’ night-time economy etc
Nurturing local business

A presentation of data about the district revealed the following:

* That Thame can expect to experience a slight
decrease in population between now and 2016.

* That, although Oxfordshire generally is mostly made
up of “wealthy achievers, there are pockets of
poverty in all three market towns.

* There is an upward trend in the number of businesses
in the area (figures of course collected before the
current economic crisis)

* Less than 1% in the area claims job seeker’s
allowance

* The Service industry is the biggest employer

* 10% of the area’s income comes from Tourism

* The average ‘tourist’ spends