Improve Settle - Attract more Visitors
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CHAMBER OF TRADE 'CALL FOR ACTION' | |
| The Steering Group of the SETTLE DISTRICT CHAMBER OF TRADE have developed a ‘Call for Action’ which they believe, if fully supported by the Town Council, Craven District Council, StART, local businesses and communities, will greatly contribute towards a successful economic future for the Settle District. Without a co-ordinated set of policies and plans that are fully supported by Settle Town Council and Craven District Council, there is a real danger that the Settle District will decline in its attractiveness to visitors, business owners and residents. If this is allowed to happen it will be severely detrimental to the well-being and viability of both the local community and local economy. The policies and actions contained within the ‘Call for Action’ will ensure that Settle enhances its vitality and viability as a successful market town, both for servicing the needs of local people and for attracting visitors from outside the district. The policies and actions contained within the ‘Call for Action’ will ensure that Settle retains its status as a vibrant, attractive market town now and well into the future. None of the proposed policies or actions contained within our ‘Call for Action’ require significant capital funding. All they require is a determination by our elected representatives, at both town and district level, to be far-sighted enough to make the difficult decisions today that will establish a foundation upon which the future economic and social success of Settle District can be built. | |
| 1 | Planning Permission should not be granted for retail premises in the town centre to be converted into residential or office space. Once retail sites are lost they can never be recovered. A steady erosion of retail space will inevitably compromise the ability of Settle to sustain its position as a vibrant and viable town centre. |
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Permission should not be granted for more than three Charity Shops within the town centre. Charity shops undoubtedly service a local need. However, a proliferation of charity shops is inevitably seen as a sign of the decline of a town centre. If other policies advocated in this strategy are adopted, then the attractiveness of Settle as a good location for a retail business will be enhanced and the ‘last resort policy’ of granting permission for further charity shops will not be necessary. |
| 3 | Retail property owners in the town centre should be discouraged from unreasonably keeping their premises empty. Empty retail premises detract from presenting Settle as having a thriving and vibrant town centre. Business Rate relief should be withdrawn from property owners who are unreasonably keeping their retail premises empty and should be subject to a significant Business Rate surcharge after 1 year. |
| 4 | People wishing to establish new retail businesses in Settle Town Centre should be given incentives and support (financial & otherwise) during the first 2 years of operation. Support should be given through business rate relief (100% for first 12 months, 60% for next 6 months and 30% for next 6 months). |
| 5 | The high number of large lorries that currently travel through the constricted roads of the town centre detract from our ability to promote Settle as a pleasant and safe area to visit and shop. HGVs should be prohibited from travelling through the town centre other than for delivering goods to businesses based there. |
| 6 | The current 20mph speed restriction through Settle Town Centre is ignored by many vehicles, creating a hazardous situation for pedestrians. This detracts from the image of Settle as a pleasant and safe area to visit and shop. The current 20mph speed limit should be more rigorously enforced. |
| 7 | The cost of parking should not be an obstacle to locals and visitors from perceiving Settle as a convenient place to do their shopping, banking etc Free short-term parking (max. 2 hours) should be provided in Whitefriars and Ashfield car parks. |
| 8 | Car parking in the Market Place area severely detracts from what is a very important public space which could be more effectively used to enhance the experience of visitors to Settle. Car Parking should be prohibited in the Market Place area. |
| 9 | The fairground on the market square for 2 weeks every year has a severe detrimental impact on the businesses within the town centre. The Town Council should find a suitable alternative location for the Fairground. |
| 10 | An annual award should be introduced for the ‘Best Independent Town Centre Retailer.’ Such local recognition would provide a great incentive for town centre retailers to develop their businesses and to make them as attractive to their customers (locals and visitors) as possible. Sponsorship could be sought for the award. |
| 11 | Our local businesses (Retail, Hospitality and Tourism) should be strongly marketed to visitors to the town. Highly visible maps giving details of the local businesses should be erected in prominent positions e.g. car parks, market square, station. Brochures describing the variety of businesses available within the Settle District should be produced and made available from retail outlets, hospitality businesses and the Tourist Information Centre. |
| 12 | Settle Town Centre should be made accessible to all people living within the surrounding villages that view Settle as their ‘service centre’. A local transport policy should be formulated and enacted that will make Settle Town Centre accessible to people from the local villages who do not have access to their own transport. |
| 13 | The local community should be encouraged to organise a major, themed annual event that will both provide entertainment for local people and attract large numbers of visitors to the town. The Chamber of Trade proposes that an event with a ‘Settle-Carlisle Railway’ theme be explored. Such a theme reflects the activity for which Settle is most famous. A great variety of activities and attractions can be envisioned which could involve many people from Settle and the surrounding villages and which could be very attractive to potential visitors from far and wide. |
| 14 | A promotional campaign should be devised and implemented to promote the Settle District as a great place to visit for a short break. A brochure should be produced to promote Settle District to the ‘Short-Break’ market. The brochure should focus on the ideal base that Settle District provides for visiting the Yorkshire Dales, the Forest of Bowland, Pendle Witch Country, Herriot Country, the Southern Lake District, Bronte Country, Skipton, Leeds, Harrogate, York, Appleby, and Carlisle etc. |
| 15 | A promotional campaign should be devised and implemented to promote the Settle District as a great place to visit for outdoor activities. A brochure should be produced to promote Settle District to the ‘Outdoor Activities’ market i.e. cycling, mountain biking, walking, pot-holing, fishing etc |
| 16 | High quality signage that promotes Settle District to passing motorists and encourages them to visit the town should be placed alongside the A65 on the approaches to Settle. The Chamber of Trade will work with the Town Council and the StART Team to implement this project. The Chamber of Trade will lobby the relevant authorities to persuade them to adopt the policies within this ‘Call for Action’. The Chamber will work with other interested organisations to organise events to attract visitors. The Chamber of Trade will implement a publicity campaign to attract visitors to the Settle District. |