Anthony Hudson - Holt should grasp the nettle and embrace the new vision for the town

Sunday, January 29, 2012
3:45 PM

Holt Town Council last week publicly launched a Vision for Holt at the community centre.

Discussions were wide ranging among the 100 or so participants, but the most important question debated was would the town’s residents benefit from these proposals? There are interesting issues here concerning the makeover of our rural settlements.

The vision looks at some exciting ideas; a public plaza around the war memorial, turning Shirehall Plain into a car-free outside sitting area, and an outdoor market on Fish Hill.

These and other imaginative improvements would make Holt, on the face of it an already prosperous town, an even more attractive, welcom-ing and convivial place.

Surely no one would disagree with that?

But there is another, not so rosy, picture that the vision addresses.

As reported recently, there is significant deprivation, little skilled employment for young people and for many, future prospects are not bright.

Of those employed, a vast proportion are in the retail industry known for low pay and skills. Moreover retail is skewed towards affluent shoppers and visitors. This leaves many of the shops with little to offer locals as well as being too expensive resulting in residents often doing their convenience shopping elsewhere.

Rents are consequently high allowing few opportunities for new non-retail businesses to get going and trying out new ideas. Such businesses could be the source of rewarding jobs for the young.

These differing pictures set the scene.

Concerns were aired that “prettifying” Holt with new squares would exacerbate the current situation, encouraging more visitors and cars, and leave little benefit for the locals.

It is a trend obviously resented by some; but it is one that market forces have fashioned through the spending power of prosperous visitors.

In a way Holt is a microcosm of the UK where it is acknowledged that market forces have rampaged unhindered resulting in an unbalanced economy without a proper amount of public benefit.

This brings us to the vision’s suggestions as to how Holt might tackle this imbalance. Low-cost market stalls on Fish Hill would plug a gap in Holt’s offer for affordable food and clothes sitting alongside more upmarket offers. Light manufacturing, green and creative industries should be encouraged with publicly sponsored financial incentives.

These businesses would provide long-term skills and employment for the young. They would be sited in attractive surroundings on the periphery but in easy walking distance so they eventually become absorbed into a larger town centre. No longer should they be second cousins to the main event; and there must be good housing and most importantly affordable homes.

This is an exciting opportunity to improve the social, economic and physical fabric of the town. The vision sets out possible funding streams and ways for delivering it.

Holt should now grasp the nettle and take these ideas forward so visitors and residents can both mutually enjoy this lovely town for many years to come.