Croydon was one of 12 town chosen to take part in the Mary Portas pilot scheme.
Croydon Council has spent only 4% of the £100,000 government grant handed out to regenerate the town, according to a recent freedom of information request.
In May last year, Croydon Old Town was one of 12 selected towns to take part in the pilot scheme to regenerate failing town centres, based on the Portas Review. Of the 12 towns selected, Croydon has the third lowest spend to date.
Retail expert Mary Portas was appointed by David Cameron to advise on the future of the high street, and made 28 points in its recommendations to the Coalition Government.
Creating market days, removing red tape for start up market traders, reviewing business rates charges for new businesses and implementing controlled free parking schemes are some of the main policies that Croydon are looking to implement.
Although still early days for the scheme, not a lot appears to have happened in the Old Town.
Max Bowman, who has successfully run pie restaurant Cockneys of Croydon for the last 28 years, said he had never heard of Mary Portas and has a few suggestions of his own.
“Better parking would be a good idea but not necessarily free, as that could lead to higher business rates,” he said.
“For starters, the homeless housed in the American Express Building up the road should be dealt with. They are forced to leave the building early in the morning and can only return in the evening, so we have alcoholics and their like roaming the streets, and all the problems that brings.”
Tim Naylor, Head of Spatial Planning at Croydon Council, has announced an ideas workshop to help generate improvements to the Master Plan. The meeting will take place on Tuesday March 26 at 6.30pm to 8.30pm, at 1 Mathews Yard, off Surrey Street.
Photo courtesy of bisgovuk, with thanks.
Follow us @SW_Londoner
