Results of Residents’ Survey on Future High Street Fund Priorities

Thank you St Neots, you didn’t disappoint.

We’ve received 945 responses to our informal survey in less than 24 hours.

The results make for interesting reading, and so too are the additional comments. It’s clear that you all really care about our town. The comments are thoughtful, insightful and full of positivity. You’re not afraid to name the issues but you also suggest lots of creative solutions.

In terms of the listed projects, St Neots residents’ priorities are clear: The Old Falcon is indisputably the most important project on the list, followed by the Market Square and the Priory Centre. The various pedestrian improvements (high street, bridge, waterfront walkway) received a middling response; for me, it really depends on the detail and the cost. 

The proposals to convert car parks, the rowing club and the green area St Anselm’s Place are far less popular. Quite a few people expressed strong concerns about these plans in the comments. 

I believe there is a solid argument for increasing office and residential space in the town centre. More local people to support the cafés and shops will help those businesses thrive. There’s also a great opportunity to nurture a business community – perhaps specialising in technology or the creative industries – with flexible leases, Gigabit Internet and communal breakout spaces that will encourage collaborative working. Once again, the devil is in the detail.

However, as various commenters noted, building desirable riverfront office units and flats shouldn’t need public funds. If these do go ahead, they will be revenue-generating, and this revenue can be used to offset the costs of other projects in the proposals. We also need assurances that the rowing club will be given a new home that is at least as good as its existing one.

I really hope that HDC is listening, and doesn’t use the Future High Streets Fund’s criteria to justify pushing through plans that are at odds with local people’s desires. I think it’s unlikely, but I wish HDC had accepted my repeated requests to work together over the last eight months as these plans have been finalised. I’m still ready and willing to listen and to make the case for the people of St Neots. 

As one resident wrote, “No one cares who’s budget or remit assets are, we just want a better town that is attractive to economically active people.”