Town Team Discuss Key Projects At AGM

Local councillors, businesses, community groups and other key stakeholders came together for Hailsham Forward’s AGM, which was held at Diplocks Hall this morning [Friday 31 July].

At the meeting, members discussed the Town Team’s activities during the past year and the next move in terms of fulfilling its aims for the revitalisation of the town centre and surrounding urban environment.

At the meeting, objectives for the revitalisation of Hailsham were reviewed and it was confirmed that Hailsham Forward will continue working with East Sussex County Council, Wealden District Council and local businesses to make improvements in the following areas:

• Building a culture of collaboration
• Specialist Markets
• Town Centre Floral Displays
• Zero tolerance on dilapidated buildings
• Street Market (including Market Stall storage facility)
• High Street infrastructure improvements
• Industrial Estates Access and Parking
• Communication with parties both inside and outside Hailsham
• Hailsham Lottery
• Town & Shopping Guide
• Sports and youth facilities
• Pop-up shop
• Establish Keep Trade Local Campaign
• Encourage links between education and business focusing on employment and training
• Safety and security in the local community

Further information on the above Business Plan action points can be found at hailshamforward.co.uk.

Forthcoming traffic improvement works to the town centre and the success of the regular Hailsham Street Market and specialist event markets were also discussed at the meeting.

Updates were provided on the work of the Movement and Access Strategy for Hailsham & Hellingly (MASHH) steering group, which was set up to ensure that improvements in town infrastructure keep pace with new housing developments and support the economic growth the local community needs.

“Over the next year the Hailsham Forward Town Team will seek to build on the successes of the past three years, to continue the economic and physical improvements to the town,” said Town Mayor Councillor Nigel Coltman, who at the AGM was re-elected Chairman of the Hailsham Forward stakeholder group for the 2015/16 year.

“My fellow Town Team members and I are delighted to be working closely with the Town, District and County Councils, local businesses and other organisations on a range of important projects for our town and bringing town revitalisation aspirations into fruition.”

Rob Slater, chairman of the Hailsham Forward Executive commented: “We on the Hailsham Forward executive committee are keen to continue our collaboration with the both local and district councils as well as business leaders within the town, so that together we can carry on improving our town.”