Shops and businesses to be consulted on funding to improve town footfall

take a series of improvements around the town centre and industrial estates.

Hailsham Town Council and Wealden District Council has supported the initiative by offering £1,000 each to kick start the project and get the scheme underway.

The Chamber has already identified a number of areas where the town centre could be improved, including the installation of floral planters, grants to local businesses for improving the external decoration of shops, maps to help visitors find local amenities and the provision of street marshals for additional security.

Street wardens, better WIFI and cosmetic changes to the town centre are amongst plans as part of a ‘Business Improvement District’ (BID) in Hailsham.

In recent weeks, Hailsham Chamber of Commerce has been in discussion with Wealden District Council about starting a BID in Hailsham.

The BID company would be funded by means and the Chamber is seeking the cooperation of the businesses in the town to achieve its goals.

All affected businesses will have a vote to adopt the levy and a successful BID ballot must achieve at least 50% of the number of businesses voting agreeing to the BID, and at least 50% of the rateable value of those voting agreeing to the project.

The establishment of the scheme will mean that the BID company will be able to under-

Causes receive cash boost

Mark Hallett, Chairman of the Chamber, and who is heading up the initiative said: “Until now Hailsham has played very much second fiddle in retail terms to neighbouring Eastbourne and Hastings, and further afield, Tunbridge Wells.”

He added: “The quality of retail offering has been inferior to those neighbours, yet this is confidently expected to change with the greater size and variety of units within the refurbished and expanded Aspire redevelopment.”

There are over 300 BIDs in operation across the country which have apparently proved positive and improved footfall and business for each BID area.

Almost £16,000 was donated to local groups recently thanks for customers of the Coop stores in Polegate and Horsebridge.

The money was raised through the Coop Members scheme and saw the Hailsham Festival receive £4,905, Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) collected £5,231 and Bushy Wood Scout Group given £5,505.

It was presented to the groups by

Store Manager Lucy Clarke.

Lucy told Hailsham News: “It’s lovely to be able to raise so much money for these three causes. Thank you to all our customers who made this happen.”

The charities chosen for 2022 include the Hellingly Hound Dogs, Hailsham Cricket Club and Little Gems, a group for parents with babies under one year old. and baby gems - a group for parents with babies under one year old.