The former retailer, Bill Grimsey, is seeking input from local (parish and town) councils to his rapid review on the impact of Covid-19 on high streets and town centres.
The clarion call to repurpose these places as Community Hubs was at the heart of the Grimsey Reviews conducted in 2013 and 2018.
His latest piece of work is expected to examine the necessary steps needed for high streets and town centres to recover and remain relevant in a changing environment.
The review team would like councils to have a strong voice in this paper, and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has urged the review to include the role of local councils in supporting their high streets and town centres.
As a result, the review team would like to hear from local councils on:
- their plans, ideas and successes, including examples of what was working prior to the onset of the pandemic and initiatives that have been taken since that could be sustained;
- critical issues you are facing with respect to your high streets and town centres post lockdown;
- issues around funding are especially pertinent as this paper will be widely publicised and presented to the government.
Please send your contribution to highstreetreview@gmail.com by 5 June 2020.