Street trading, street markets and the High Street

Everybody wants a 'vibrant' centre for their town - the problem being what exactly makes it so.

Here are some thoughts - and 'evidence' - gathered over the last four years or so:

STREET MARKET/STREET TRADING:

Opinion is generally in favour of a 'street market': Futures Forum: Street Market Sidmouth

And yet opinion is against street trading - in Sidmouth: 'Essentially, the key outcomes of the consultation are that non-Sidmouth residents, non-Sidmouth town and parish councils (who took part), and street traders are overwhelmingly in favour of more markets and street trading.’ EDDC Street Trading Consultation. @ Streetlife AND EDDC Consultation about Street Trading @ Streetlife
Sidmouth doesn't want it: Futures Forum: Street trading in Sidmouth AND Councillors told: leave Sidmouth trading as it is - News - Exmouth Journal
But Exmouth does: Street trading and markets set to be allowed on every Exmouth street - News - Exmouth Journal AND Street trading - East Devon

FARMERS’ MARKET:

Opinion is clearly in favour of farmers’ markets: Why can't we have a farmers market by Fields? @ Streetlife AND Farmers Market. @ Streetlife

And there is of course the Vision Group's regular monthly Farmers’ Market @ Kennaway House: Vision Group for Sidmouth - Markets

INDEPENDENT SHOPS:

There is widespread opinion against chains: Chains to revitalise Sidmouth? @ Streetlife
In the USA, some cities have managed to keep them out: (Sept 2013) What It Means to Keep Chain Stores out of San Francisco - The New Yorker AND USA Today Cities put shackles.pdf AND (April 2006) Nantucket Votes to Ban Chain Stores From Downtown - The New York Times

CHARITY SHOPS/COFFEE SHOPS
Opinion is also generally against charity shops: Charity shops? Are there too many? @ Streetlife AND Interference on the High Street. @ Streetlife AND charity shops @ Streetlife
And coffee shop chains are not popular either: Futures Forum: Sidmouth: a town of charity shops and coffee shops? AND Futures Forum: "We don’t want a main shopping area of charity shops and coffee chains."

CLONE TOWN:

Sidmouth town surveys 2012 and 2014 fear becoming like any other: Futures Forum: Clone Town Sidmouth? AND Futures Forum: New Economics Foundation: Clone Town Sidmouth? >>> "The towns most dependent on the biggest chains and out of town stores have proven to be most vulnerable to the economic crisis."

And there are fears for the future: Futures Forum: "Sidmouth's different shopping experience is disappearing."
It's clear that buying from local businesses is key: Futures Forum: Why buy local?

SUPERMARKET LEVY:

On supermarkets: Call to tax Torbay supermarkets - BBC News @ Futures Forum: "Promoting local economic activity, local services and facilities, social and community wellbeing and environmental protection"

On chain stores: Futures Forum: Can anyone save the High Street?

The Local Retail Levy under the Sustainable Communities Act: Futures Forum: Local Retail Levy: District Council to debate AND Futures Forum: District Council decides against the Local Retail Levy AND Futures Forum: Local Retail Levy: Exmouth Town Council support Transition Town Exmouth initiative

SMEs:

Small and Medium-sized enterprises are of great importance to the local economy: Futures Forum: "Statistics show us that small and medium-size businesses (including those in tourism) are our life blood."

Support comes from national campaigns: Futures Forum: Keep Trade Local... the campaign from the Federation of Small Businesses

And the push is coming locally too: Futures Forum: “Sidmouth needs more small shops”

HIGH STREET:

There are clearly fears over internet competition: Futures Forum: Sidmouth high street and online shopping

To repear: everyone want a ‘vibrant’ High St: Futures Forum: District Council leader: “Sidmouth has a vibrant town centre and its community keeps a degree of excellence in maintaining it. Cranbrook should be striving to match that level of vibrancy for it to achieve all the aspirations that we have for it.” AND Futures Forum: The changing face of the high street ... the death of the shopping mall

So, what makes a good high street? The Telegraph looked at this last week: Great British High Street Awards 2016: Is your high street as good as this?
And the awards have just been made: The Great British High Street Awards 2016: Winners | The Great British High Street

With a town just down the coast for Sidmouth to learn from perhaps:

Category: Coastal Community: Falmouth
In an incredibly tough category , Falmouth came out on top. Collaboration is key in this coastal community, with the local authority working closely with the BID and Town Team. The strong marketing and events on offer and the lowest vacancy rate in the South-West, blew our judges away. Falmouth named best coastal community | Coastal Communities Alliance
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