Flintshire towns regeneration plan progress

The Council’s Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered a report this week on regeneration, with the authority able to draw on funding from the Welsh Government help towns emerging from the pandemic and other challenges.

At the meeting, Niall Waller the council’s Enterprise and Regeneration manager spoke about the Welsh Government’s wish for local consultation, including with businesses and town councils.

He said that ‘Place Plans’ would be drawn up for the county’s seven towns, documents which focus on the infrastructure needs of communities.

According to the report presented to councillors it is recommended that initial Place Plans are developed for Buckley, Holywell and Shotton. Connah’s Quay and Queensferry would be next, followed by Mold and Flint.

The report looks at some of the issues challenging town centres, particularly in light of the pandemic, and the need for the authority to get tough on empty premises blighting the towns.

READ MORE: Flintshire town centres regeneration plan

Mr Waller said that work would be carried out “in-house” with six months allocated for each phase, depending on the needs of the town. He added that expectations would need to be managed given some of the ambitions but limits on Welsh Government funding. But that if businesses have any ideas in any of the towns the council will listen.

The Welsh Government is particularly anxious to see enforcement used to full extent to tackle empty properties both residential and commercial.

Buckley Pentrobin Cllr Mike Peers (Ind) asked for details about councillor involvement and timescales in creating plans, adding that some issues would be out of their control.

“There are a number of shops outside of council control, owned by private investors”, he said.

Cllr Mike Peers. Source - Flintshire Council (Image: Flintshire Council)

“We’re at the behest of the rents that landlords are charging for the properties. People are leaving in their droves and the message coming back is the rents are too high.

“That’s an important issue we need to look at.”

Mr Waller replied that proposals are going to cabinet next week and councillors would be involved all the way through, with work starting as soon as it had cabinet approval.

He described shops as one of the biggest challenges but said grants and loans could be incentives, and enforcement could also encourage change. The council also wants to increase its ownership of premises in town centres.

Mold East Cllr Chris Bithell (Lab) welcomed the report and said that improvement plans were already in place in his town.

He said “In my own town the area between Aldi and the bus station, plans have been developed for that already.”

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Caergwrle Cllr David Healey (Lab) pointed to Mold as an example of where a town council had been influential in improving the town centre and making the most of its attractions.

He said: “Mold Town Council has been exemplary in the way it works so closely with Flintshire County Council, helping to strengthen what is going on within that locality.”

He pointed to how the town council has celebrated Bailey Hill.

“I think there is an example to other town and community councils” he added, while welcoming confirmation that funding to deal with empty properties would not just be restricted to town centres.