THE head of the Douglas Development Partnership in the Isle of Man has welcomed recommendations made by a retail expert into how to revive Britain's high streets.
Chris Pycroft, the manager of the partnership, said Mary Portas's review into the future of high streets has started a "much needed national conversation".
Mary Portas was appointed by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in May 2010 to conduct an independent review into the future of high streets.
In her report, called the Portas Review, which was published in December Mary said: "The days of a high street populated simply by independent butchers, bakers and candlestick makers are, except in the most exceptional circumstances, over.
"How we shop as a nation has quite simply changed beyond recognition. Forever."
The Portas Review has come up with 28 recommendations to make high streets a "hub of the community that local people are proud of and want to protect".
Speaking about the report Mr Pycroft said: "Encouragingly a number of recommendations Mary Portas makes in her review, Douglas Development Partnership is either already implementing or considering for the future.
"We're already ahead of the game in respect of Ms Portas's concept of a 'town team' which she sees as a 'visionary, strategic and strong operational management team'.
"Some time ago the council appointed Gill Anderson as Douglas town centre manager to work with the Development Partnership’s board and advisory group.
"These are decision-makers experienced in retail and business who are actively involved with the partnership in helping change attitudes, driving schemes to regenerate the town and are taking a strategic view of the Douglas of the future. In short a body of people working to identify, develop and communicate a Douglas 'brand'."
Another recommendation is to establish a "National Market Day" where budding shopkeepers can "try their hand at operating a low-cost retail business".
Mr Pycroft said this was "of particular interest" as the partnership has been involved in outdoor markets on North Quay and a Christmas emporium in Castle Street/Marina Road in Douglas.
He continued: "Both initiatives have demonstrated the value of markets and street trading to help drive footfall to some of the quieter parts of the town centre and show there is clearly an appetite for a re-imagined retail experience - very much in line with Ms Portas's vision which is, in her words, 'to put the heart back into our high streets' so that they become destinations for, and I quote, 'socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning - a civic not a private space'."
Mr Pycroft said he was "heartened" that throughout the report Ms Portas made use of the word "destination" to put across the message that high streets and town centres should be more than somewhere to shop.
In her report she states: "The only hope our high streets have of surviving in the future is to recognise what's happened and deliver something new.
"My goal is to breathe economic and community life back into our towns. I want to see our high streets bustling with people, services and jobs. They must be ready to experiment, try new things, take risks."
Mr Pycroft continued: "When the town centre regeneration process began the scheme was branded "Destination Douglas" which I believe crystallises the vision of a dynamic and vibrant town with a unique sense of place, a town people would want to discover and a town which people would want to experience."
Some of Mary Portas's recommendations relate to the need to change legislation in some areas. Mr Pycroft said the partnership would consider the legislative issues over the next few months to consider whether an approach should be made to government to change or bring forward specific legislation to aid the Island's town centres.
He explained: "What is very clear from the review is that the Isle of Man, through a combination of good policy and luck, has managed to avoid a growth in out-of-town retailing. This has allowed our town centres and high streets to remain the main focus of retailing in the Island. We should make every effort to ensure that this remains the case in the future through the use of strong planning policy and a supportive retail and leisure policy.
"Douglas Development Partnership, and the many other Douglas stakeholders who recognise the importance of a re-invigorated town centre, applaud Ms Portas for wanting to 'breathe economic and community life back into our towns' and we share her vision for towns to serve as 'vibrant destinations people choose to visit."
To read the Portas Review in full visit www.maryportas.com.
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