Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council to meet with local traders

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Leader John Dean and Chief Executive Michel Saminaden, along with St Modwen, have arranged to meet with local businesses in Hatfield town centre this July.

The meeting is to discuss potential interim improvements the council, partners and retailers can make to help the town centre continue trading following the announcement that the construction of the regeneration of the town centre has been delayed.

Leader Councillor John Dean, who will be chairing the meeting, said: “The UK is currently facing a challenging economic situation which is naturally having an impact on the timetable for the redevelopment of the town centre. Due to this factor, retailers within the town centre face a very difficult period. We, along with the partners want to consider initiatives to improve local amenities in the current town centre ahead of the redevelopment and would like to discuss these issues face to face.”

To run alongside this, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council has setup a working group to manage short and medium term improvements in Hatfield town centre. Members of this group will be attending the meeting in July to listen and pick up ideas on improvements.

The group are already considering a number of initiatives, including general amenity improvements to the town centre, such as additional planting, notice boards, encouraging short term lets, and increasing feelings of safety. Other initiatives being considered are community art projects, children’s street entertainers, bands, family days.

The council also plans to work in partnership with other public service providers such as the town council and county council to consider improvements ahead of the construction of the redevelopment.

These initiatives being considered are part of council’s overall aim and commitment to regenerating Hatfield in light of the uncertain economic conditions. The borough council and its partners are also currently working hard to establish how best to deliver the scheme and how to bring forward the start of the redevelopment.

Cllr John Dean adds: “I would like to reassure local residents and retailers that Welwyn Hatfield Council and St Modwen (the developers) are still very much committed to the redevelopment of Hatfield town centre and we will continue to work together to ensure the project gets underway as soon as possible under the present economic circumstances.”

Once activities and improvements for the current town centre are confirmed they will be advertised to local residents.