People in Hucknall say a masterplan document aimed at breathing ‘new life’ into the town will make it ‘brighter and vibrant’. The 38-page masterplan, was published by the Ashfield Independent administration last autumn and people have had the chance to comment on it. It sets out plans to bring more people into the popular town and to improve on its already “vibrant” nightlife.
The Ashfield District Council plans have been unanimously backed by council cabinet members. Its approval follows a four-week consultation where residents were asked to give their views on the initial plans, with a series of amendments made to reflect consultee responses.
The initial paper had outlined plans to bring derelict or disused town centre buildings back to life, either for retail, food and drink, community or residential purposes. The council have also outlined other measures including creating murals, street art and ‘living walls’ which, alongside the new shutters proposals, it hopes will also make the town more vibrant.
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People in Hucknall town centre said that the plans would benefit the town and would brighten it up. Jayne Garstang, 64, who has lived in Hucknall her whole life said that she would like to see independent shops fill the empty units on the high street.
The dental nurse said: “All the shops are filled, that’s what people want. You can’t get clothes, shoes, only from Tesco. Just things like linen, curtains and bedding. You want to see little independent shops. The murals, I quite like a mural, if they are done nicely. It's like a feature.
“You used to be able to buy everything, fridges freezers, absolutely everything. The stall holders at the market on Fridays knew everyone, they were there every week. Thursdays and Fridays were buzzing. A lot of independent shops, a variety.”
Another shopper, who gave the name Robert, 63, who also has lived in Hucknall his whole life said that the plans will make the town brighter. He said: “I think it will look brighter, I don’t know whether it will bring people.
"The more modern way people shop nowadays, they go to Tesco. I like to use local shops. I think it would brighten the town up - I think since they had it pedestrianised it’s become more vibrant. The murals would be good. It’s nice all the cafes and everything, now it's pedestrianised, with more seats outside, I’ve seen improvements. It will make it more vibrant and nicer.”
The council are looking to find different ways of making shops more attractive, including whether to work with traders on installing artwork across shutters to give them more vibrancy. Within the wider masterplan, however, a transport hub is proposed near the railway station to bring more people into town and make Hucknall more accessible.
Emma Webster, who owns The Bee’s Knees a preloved clothing boutique, which opened in March 2020, said that she would like the plans to include independent local businesses that surround the high street. The 41-year-old said: “It’s been different from how the high street was when it was not pedestrianised, it was a lot busier.
“All the little shops that can’t afford to be on the high street seem to be forgotten about. I think that the council should support the businesses that are here. Not just the businesses in the high street but its business elsewhere, Watnall Road, Portland Road and Annelesy Road, there’s some lovely little businesses there.
“There’s plans for houses on green belt land but there’s no infrastructure. They need to encourage people to come and use the high street. Rather than have the shops empty, they could have a community project, a pop up shop, rather than it being empty, do something with it. Hucknall in the afternoon is thriving, lovely little pubs, the Cow Shed, Baker and Bear, the Hideout, little micro pubs."
Papers published ahead of the cabinet meeting on Tuesday (July 19) confirmed the public consultation, which ran for four weeks between April and May, gathered 43 responses from local residents and organisations.
Speaking in the meeting, Councillor John Wilmott (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall North, said: “We’ve taken recommendations brought out of the consultation process and that it has identified new opportunities. It’s our aim to bring more people into our popular town and to improve the nightlife experience.
“The consultation highlights that we are listening to residents’ concerns. I’ve been dreaming of this masterplan since I became a councillor, it’s a dream and it’s one that will come true.”
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