Parts of Bedfordshire are facing a “high street emergency”, as businesses struggle to cope with economic challenges, a meeting heard.
A motion was presented to a full Central Bedfordshire Council meeting calling on the local authority “to recognise the increasing pressures on our high streets and town centres, and declare a high streets emergency”.
Liberal Democrat Leighton Linslade South cllr Emma Holland-Lindsay warned: “Too many of our high streets and town centres are hanging by a thread.
“Our town centres are being hit by a perfect storm of rising costs, loss of banking facilities, rising rents and competition from online retail. It’s a high street emergency.
“Vibrant pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes are vital community assets which enrich our town and villages. Town centre renewal is vitally important for the communities of Central Bedfordshire, rural and urban.
“Places are all about people, and those in Central Bedfordshire need high-quality homes, access to jobs, a great public realm and good transport links.
“All of these are levers of town centre revival. We’ve discussed many facets of this during the last two years. We’ve been proud Central Bedfordshire is a destination for the Tour of Britain and the Universal Studios development.
“We’ve discussed ‘meanwhile’ spaces and how we can better support community initiatives. But there’s always been a frustration in this chamber at not being able to do more,” she explained.
“At the heart of this motion is embedding a whole council approach to regeneration, alongside our current commitment to sustainability. This must be essential to the way we all work together, members and officers, to attract business and investment.
“This motion isn’t about committing extra resources because we know finances are tight. Instead, it’s more about the culture of this council and its approach to every policy decision being considered.
“Central Bedfordshire is a growth area and we know our town centres haven’t benefited from this in recent years. Too many are on the brink,” she added.
“I want to see the council considering every option and idea proposed to see if it can support us to renew our town centres and high streets.”
Action plan
Her motion acknowledged: “This council has time and again shown its support for our town centres.
“Members have backed motions since 2023, encouraging a town centre strategy development to support creative ‘meanwhile’ uses for vacant spaces and to help communities after the loss of banking facilities.
“Our area has seen large amounts of housing growth in recent years, often without a focus on delivering infrastructure and town centre regeneration to allow them to thrive and support an increasing population.
“This motion urges CBC to take a strategic approach to this agenda, and to develop a high streets and town centres action plan.
“It asks the council to consider what immediate action can be taken to support high streets and town centres, while encouraging vital businesses, and helping community and cultural groups. These need our support more than ever, if such areas are to continue to thrive.
“It also wants council leader Adam Zerny to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves about the growing challenges faced by town centre and high street businesses in Central Bedfordshire, and requesting support from government.”
CBC chairman and Conservative Caddington cllr Kevin Collins said: “This motion has financial implications, so I’m referring it to the executive.”
By Euan Duncan
Local Democracy Reporter
