In full: How council candidates will help Basingstoke town

The economic recovery from the pandemic and the impact that it has had on Basingstoke town centre is a key feature of many of the parties’ campaigns.

As part of The Gazette's One Big Question feature, this week, we asked: “The Covid-19 pandemic has provided a real challenge to the retail industry, with Basingstoke losing a number of high profile chains in the last twelve months. What is one thing you will campaign or implement immediately to reinvigorate Basingstoke town centre?”

Here are all eight responses in full:

Conservatives - Simon Bound

We need more retailers offering products and services that are not easily available via the internet with an eclectic mix which compliment each other.

An artisan baker and worldwide deli next door to each other as an example. With the smells of baked bread and ground coffee swirling through our streets. A world renowned Chef preparing amazing Hampshire produce in the heart of the town, giving us that truly thriving buzz that comes with having the best of the best.

Our future plans for the town our being shaped by residents now. People are telling us they want better outdoor places, easy access to our beautiful parks that are conveniently joined to a thriving town centre. With more great places to eat, drink and spend time together.

All the shops to get what you want plus knowing that there is always something to see, do or just explore and enjoy.

Labour - Andy McCormick

Our top priority is to breathe new life into our local economy. We will work with all partners and parties to draw up a Town Centre Rescue Plan.

We will conduct a Business Rate Review to help our local businesses. We will introduce sensitive letting to rebuild our Top of Town with new businesses and visitor attractions. We will work with our pubs and restaurants to help revive the night time economy.

We will reverse the cut in grant funding for the Anvil and Haymarket and work with them to bring more live acts to Basingstoke, thereby generating demand in our local economy.

We need more independent shops, artisan and trade shops in the Top of Town: delicatessens, pie shops, butchers, bakers, fishmongers, a fair trade shop, a cycle shop.

We need to support our market in the top of town and promote the Borough Basket as an online initiative to help local retail businesses.

Basingstoke and Deane Independent Group - Paul Harvey

The first thing we would do is meet immediately with all retailers to hear what they need from the Council to make their businesses work.

Our policy is Town Centre first and to end the farce of the New River ’out of town’ retail park two minutes up the road on our leisure park, which will directly compete with our town centre.

Our focus would be:

• We’d introduce a policy to prevent automatic permitted development converting shops/offices into flats;
• We’d offer cheaper rents for retailers;
• We’ll promote independent retailers in the town;
• We’ll remove car parking charges from the Centre & Top of Town car parks;
• We’ll bring the post office back to the Top of Town;
• We’d invest in and grow our historic market;
• We’ll reintroduce the farmers market;
• We’ll reverse the cut to the Anvil;
• We would lead on inward investment bringing new retailers to our town centre.

Liberal Democrats - Ron Hussey

As a priority, lobby the Tory Government to create a level playing field so real shops can compete with online retail.

Then, change our planning rules to prevent new out-of-town shopping centres being built whilst our established retail centres have empty units.

Thirdly, work with those who own empty units to encourage new and small businesses create a unique retail offer in Basingstoke.

Hampshire Independents - Alan Stone

Hampshire Independents has a good understanding of how to improve High Streets and Town centres. Many of our candidates run small independent businesses in Basingstoke Town centre.

There is not one single thing but a succession of Council controlled levers to improve Basingstoke Top of Town and the town centre:

• A less aggressive parking policy.
• 2 hour free use of car parks will let people park and use the businesses without fear of getting a huge fine.
• Correct policing of anti-social behaviour now that the BID rangers have gone will fall back into the charge of the Council, and as our Police & Crime commissioner candidate, Steve James-Bailey says: “Actually seeing a regular police officer on patrol would be nice”.
• Open public toilets outside festival place so the evening trades are served.
• Low rent start up retail units are essential for the future. Companies like Burberrys and Virgin started from small units .

Green Party - Stephen Philpotts

This problem requires radical solutions. We cannot save the high street as it was - losing chain stores is predominantly a product of online shopping, not COVID.

We envisage the town centre retaining and increasing its position as a centre for a wide range of cultural, leisure and entertainment facilities.

The Green Party would like to see space given over to independent local producers and businesses.

Some existing trading space will need to be converted into much-needed reasonably priced housing, but also office hubs offering facilities for small businesses.

We see scope for themed events that promote local businesses. Cafes and restaurants could be allowed to spill over outside, with performance areas, supported by play areas and creches.

Some of this would require major structural changes in ownership, and public finance, but it would result in the town centre being revitalised as a great place to live and work.

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition - Mayola Demmenie

TUSC candidates will immediately implement rent control for everybody, including small businesses.

We will campaign to reverse and oppose all cuts to public services as well as council tax rises. We will not allow working-class people to pay for this crisis whilst big business has doubled their profits.

So business rates for independent and small businesses in town will have to come down drastically whilst big chains and multinationals will have to bear the brunt.

Other towns have successfully managed to transform their high streets with a great variety of independent shops, and driven the big chains out, we can do so too.

We would set up 'one-stop-shops' in each estate for easy access to council services for anyone too, and bring as much public services back in-house.

Women's Equality Party - Priya Brown

Covid exacerbated existing challenges to high-street retail – losing more jobs for women, who work in retail far more - but there is opportunity to build back equal; to accept that big chains paying extortionate rents are gone and create a town centre experience that can’t be gotten online.

WE know people are social; they want community and will gather and spend in comfortable, accessible, diverse spaces.

That means independent shops: WE will push for low rents for indies, especially eco-businesses.

WE want empty spaces given to community initiatives like the make-do-and-mend, kitchen and crafting ideas in our Climate Action Plan.

WE want good extra care facilities like sensory play areas, chill-out spaces, arts spaces, a breastfeeding lounge and recycling banks. Think Covent Garden - people don’t travel miles to visit because they have John Lewis, Primark and Greggs!

Our strategy must be many little things: the one big thing is finally accepting and embracing this change to shopping culture.