A unique street

At first sight, the High Street appears to be a typical bustling shopping street in a prosperous town centre, though with a good range of shops and some fine old buildings. Further study reveals that many of the buildings do genuinely date back some three of four hundred years.

The High Street is at the centre of a very special town centre and, within plans for economic regeneration, deserves to be refurbished to the highest standards.

Suggested improvements

This study illustrates what should be the expected standard of renovations for each building in the street, both the facades above eye level and the shop fronts and shop signs themselves.

The details of the public realm could also be improved: the materials and workmanship of the pavements are not of a high standard. These improvements could be combined with the mooted traffic reduction proposals. Street lighting could be reconsidered using advanced techniques that are similar to theatrical stage lighting, rather than conventional street lamps. A totally magical world could be produced during the hours of darkness.

How can this be done?

To implement such changes will require dedication and co-ordination of purpose by all those with an interest in the street.

Many improvements would take place when tenants or leases change. In the public sector there are opportunities to co-ordinate the reduction of traffic and innovative street lighting with these suggestions for total street improvement.

An immediate start

But a start could be made immediately to carry out modest improvements through normal ongoing maintenance.

The greater benefit will be achieved if all work by building owners and tenants, as well as the public sector, is carried out only after reference to this study.