The Hucknall Business Voice Launch Event
Tue 17 June 2008 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Issues Raised By Businesses to be included in discussions with Urbed during the Hucknall Master planning process:

Traffic Congestion

Traffic congestion on the high street makes pedestrian navigation very difficult, as well as being a hazard to shoppers particularly the elderly and young children. Having a one-way traffic system or increased pelican crossings with better traffic light sequencing would help with this situation.

Planning Consent

One business felt that there were insufficient planning restrictions in place to ensure a healthy mix of businesses on the high street and that too many competing businesses were setting up rather than nurturing a healthy mix of complimentary businesses.

General Security

Some businesses open late in the evenings and during weekends and are not part of the main high street. It was felt that there was a need for added security measures for shop premises in this position. In addition groups of young people hanging around shopfronts in the evenings were considered a threat and it was felt that maybe more could be done to provide more constructive draws and attractions for young people in the town centre.

Displacement of businesses

A local scaffolding and skip hire company is concerned that the proposed bypass would necessitate the relocation of his business. A major concern for this would be the financial implications of such a move. There would be no guarantee of preferential business rates, the cost of purchasing premises as well as having to produce new stationary etc. This particular business employs 17 staff from the Ashfield area and if suitable premises within the district are not found, this puts some of these jobs at risk. This is the only company of its type in the area and it is important to safeguard jobs during this regeneration process.

Parking Charges

Parking charges are a big issue for many businesses, it is felt that since the introduction of parking charges the high street businesses have suffered as most shoppers choose to park (free) and shop at Tesco.

One butchers shop on the high Street expressed concern that access for HGVs making deliveries to his shop was difficult and delivery drivers had incurred parking penalties when making deliveries to his shop.

Tram Stops Short

Many businesses feel the tram should not terminate at Tesco, but its route should continue through the High Street and terminate at the market place. This would enable visitors to the town centre to see the range of shops and access them easily and without having to park. They could do their shopping and return home conveniently.

Another suggestion was to have a free "hopper" bus that would transport shoppers from one side of town to the other.

Business Rates

Many businesses felt that rate relief schemes didn't go far enough to support small businesses in Hucknall, because business rates were too high to start with. Once other charges for business waste collection, for example, were taken into account the cost of having a business in Hucknall was almost on a par with Nottingham City Centre.