Access & Environment
Huntingdon - A guide to shops and services
This guide was produced in response to requests from businesses and members of the public for a leaflet version of the town maps. As well as having raised the profile of the maps, it has also been very useful as a visitors' shopping guide. As with the maps, the leaflet is self-funding through advertising and sponsorship opportunities offered to Partnership members and will be updated annually to link in with the maps.
Town improvements
The Partnership has acted as a consultative body on several town improvement schemes in recent years. For example the High Street was repaved and the Partnership was consulted on the design including street furniture and lighting. Throughout the works, the Town Centre Manager ensured day-to-day liaison between town centre businesses and the contractors, which was critical in minimising disruption throughout the works programme.
In 2007, a similar process in being undertaken by the Partnership for the bus lane construction, the building of the Law Courts and County Council buildings under Clegg and the Chequers Court retail units. The changes to the Town Hall on the Market Square and the rebuilding of Huntingdonshire District Council HQ at Pathfinder House sees further involvement of the Partnership as Huntingdon continues to develop.
St Benedict's Court improvements
In February 2006, the Partnership was successful in winning an award of just under £20,000 from the East of England Development Agency's (EEDA) 'Quality of Place Fund', managed by Action for Market Towns. The money has enhanced the St Benedict's Court area of Huntingdon with specific emphasis on a water feature, lighting and entrance signage.
These improvements have added a focus and a sense of place to St Benedict's Court, which has in turn encouraged shoppers and visitors to stay longer and spend more.
This busy crossroads within the town changed dramatically and the results have been acknowledged by the Association of Town Centre Management in their awards for 2006. Huntingdon Town Centre Partnership won the Eastern Region award for 'Creating A Quality Environment'.
David Wilson (Head of Culture, Tourism and Sport at EEDA), Emma Thornton (outgoing Huntingdon Town Centre Manager), Katy Sismore (incoming Huntingdon Town Centre Manager)
Improving signage
Thanks also to the 'Quality of Place Fund' (see above), much-needed signage will be placed at the opening to All Saints Passage in order to promote this as a shopping area and to alleviate the need for A-boards on the High Street. In the past, this area has struggled with footfall as it is poorly signed and it is hoped the new signs will improve pedestrian flow significantly.
Pigeons
In March 2005, the Partnership commissioned a report by PICAS UK to investigate a solution to the town's pigeon problem. PICAS specialise in providing advice and support on town centre pigeon control through non-lethal measures and have made a series of recommendations, which the Partnership is pursuing.
These include a public education campaign on where and where not to feed the pigeons, alternative roosting and feeding sites away from the town centre and improved pigeon-proofing advice for town centre buildings. It will not be a quick solution as some of their recommendations will certainly take time to implement but we hope it will be one which is long term and sustainable.
The key to removing the pigeons from the town centre hinges on the support of the general public and town centre businesses, who will be actively discouraged from feeding the pigeons other than in specially designated areas.
For a free copy of the Shopping Guide, please email Katy Sismore on info@huntingdontowncentrepartnership.co.uk
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