‘TOWN centres are changing, and the way people use them has probably now changed forever’ was the lead message at the ‘Vitality and Viability’ workshop held recently in Holsworthy Memorial Hall by the Institute of Place Management (IPM).

People are buying more online. Many people are also looking to be more environmentally considerate, avoiding always buying ‘new’ as a result and finances still remain tight for many people. Yet beyond that, how do people actually get to town from rural areas and what is the draw to get them in the first place?

These were all things discussed during the workshop which saw a strong attendance.

It is predicted that there will be 900,000 retail job losses by 2025, and 10,000 were lost nationally in January 2020 alone. It was with this knowledge that 31 key stakeholders from across the Holsworthy area came together for the workshop, organised by Torridge District Council and supported by Holsworthy Town Council, with IPM, part of Manchester Metropolitan University.

IPM are currently the government’s ‘go-to’ experts on national town centre trends, and as a result have been enlisted to support towns across the country to understand their roles in this new, changed world.

The Vitality and Viability workshop aimed to provide up to date trends, data and analysis to make sure that strategies and efforts for future development of the town centre are based on evidence, not just guesswork. With a view to exploring how to create bustle and making a place people can be proud of Ben Stephenson and Dr Steve Millington explored some of the 237 factors which have been accepted as the true influencers of change.

Of those, the 25 ‘get on with it’ factors are those which it is felt councils and local communities can really work together to improve — this included innovation, the non-retail offer, place marketing, attractiveness and the importance of a shared strategic and open vision. Those 25 key points can then be broken down again to look at attractions, accessibility, amenity and action.

Cllr Bob Hicks, lead member for the economy at Torridge District Council, said: “It’s important to partner with national experts to address the issues that face all of our town centres. The changes these towns are experiencing impact on the whole community, so it’s great to see Torridge taking a lead with that.”

The workshop brought partners together to discuss a stronger, unified version for the future, supporting the town centre to be a more vibrant space that meets the needs of a wider section of the community. How to make it look better, how to improve the experience, what is there for people to do in the town apart from shopping (in particular for young people) and how to make sure the town is marketed so everyone knows what’s going on?

Following the workshop, mayor of Holsworthy Jo Heaven said: “Holsworthy is, in many respects, a unique market town but it is always useful to gain an outside national perspective on how our town centre can be improved.

“The town council is looking forward to working with businesses and the wider community to continue to improve the attractiveness of the town to locals and visitors alike.”