Call for regeneration at Hunstanton
A MAJOR regeneration of Hunstanton has been called for in an attempt to breathe new life into the town while establishing it as an attractive shopping centre.
Kevan Fleming (48), owner of Legge Menswear on High Street, believes the resort is facing the prospect of a serious decline unless significant investment is made in creating new retail opportunities and a focal point for the town.
He has called for West Norfolk Council to include plans for a small "shopping mall" and a revamp of The Spinney as part of a regeneration scheme aimed at safeguarding the future of one of the region's premier tourist attractions.
Mr Fleming discussed his plans for the future of Hunstanton with the Lynn News and said: "We are lacking the attractions for people to come here and shop and if we do not have some input in the town centre we will only be going in one direction.
"Lynn has had a lot of money spent on it and that injection has had a tremendous impact. We do not have a draw.
"Burnham Market and Holt are attractive little shopping places, but we have not got enough quality shops for people.
"We are slowly losing the retail side.
"Over the last six months we have lost four or five shops, some of those have now been turned into offices.
"I am very enthusiastic about Hunstanton and the future does bother me."
Mr Fleming has proposed an overhaul of The Spinney which would see a seated area created along with a coffee shop and small town square.
He is also recommending a small shopping centre, featuring around 15 to 20 quality and attractive stores, at the site immediately behind the Princess Theatre on St Edmund's Terrace.
Mr Fleming said: "I have been in this business for 30 years and I know how Hunstanton trades.
"I am not knocking the town, it is my town and my livelihood. We can all trade for seven or eight months in the year, but at other times it is very difficult.
"The borough council earns a lot of money through Hunstanton during the summer but I do not believe we get enough put back.
"If they do not raise the quality of the area in five year's time they may struggle to find a town centre."
West Norfolk Council announced plans for a major regeneration of Hunstanton, including a possible pier and monorail, earlier last year and appointed Building Design Partnership (BDP) to prepare a built environment masterplan for the town centre and southern part of the seafront.
Meetings were held in November for groups and organisations to make contributions towards the scheme and a further workshop is now being planned.
Next stage of the consultation process will be at Hunstanton Town Hall from 6pm on Thursday, January 31.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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