Community Meeting leads to creation of a High Street Working Party

Around 20 people attended a special meeting in April to discuss the future of Heathfield High Street. Those present included Parish Councillors, representatives from Wealden District Council, a representative for Nusrat Ghani MP and a number of local businesses.

The need to keep free parking in the town was a recurring concern, as was footfall, vacant shop premises and Business Rates.

Many recent High Street initiatives were discussed, including the Quarterly ‘Small Business Saturday’, which encourages people to ‘Shop Local’ with a free prize draw for shoppers and generates around £12-15,000 for the local economy annually.

Both Chamber of Commerce Committee Members and Heathfield and Waldron Parish Councillors urged more traders to support each initiative, including the late night shopping event in the run up to Christmas.

As a result of the meeting, a High Street Working Party has now been formed, comprising representatives from the Chamber, Wealden District Council and Parish Council. It is hoped that this Committee will now focus on High Street growth and raising the town profile.

Would you like to be part of this exciting new opportunity to help your Community? If so, please email the Heathfield Chamber of Commerce at secretary@heathfieldchamber.co.uk