TOWN CENTRE ACTION PLAN
Future is now looking bright
The people have had their say – and now plans are being worked on to revitalise Hamilton town centre.
South Lanarkshire Council this week presented the findings of a public survey that had over 1200 responses.
And the vision is to build a more community-focussed town centre around its historic core.
South Lanarkshire Council leader and Hamilton councillor John Ross said: “It won’t happen overnight but we have to start somewhere, this is a great opportunity to move Hamilton forward.”
Dozens of people gathered in Hamilton Town House on Tuesday night to hear the results of the Public Consultation Survey and listen to the council’s future proposals.
The survey saw 1245 people have their say on what they think the town needs and what their main concerns are.
And the meeting heard that while Hamilton Town Centre has faced many challenges in the last few years, it is now attracting new investment and creating opportunities that can drive new footfall and address long-standing issues of concern to local businesses and the community.
The council is working with the Hamilton Business Improvement District and town centre partners, and people heard there are plans and proposals in place to transform empty buildings in the town such as the old Bairds site, the Hamilton Town Hotel, Vogue Cinema.
Councillor Ross said: “The town centre has faced many challenges as the economic crisis had taken its toll, parking outside shops, click and collect, and the growth of the digital high street. We need to take a more holistic approach to building the future of Hamilton.”
The council said it been developing a strategy involving local consultation and addressing local issues. It seeks co-ordinated and multi-partnered action to encourage investment and improve the town centre.
Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley said: “I welcome the results of the council’s consultation which are broadly in line with the responses Christina Mckelvie MSP and I received in 2016.
“We know the issues around parking, traffic management and empty shop units – it’s now time for the solutions.
“I look forward to the council’s proposals that will go before committee later this year and to their implementation in the near future.”
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse MSP Christina Mckelvie said: “I am delighted that the town centre public meeting was a success, putting concrete regeneration proposals direct to the people of South Lanarkshire.
“Working in collaboration, South Lanarkshire Council have listened to the recommendations of the Our Town, Your Voice regeneration report and are putting them into action.
“I have always believed in the potential of Hamilton and in the incredibly exciting opportunities that our town possesses. This town centre strategy shows the real ambition of the newly-appointed SNP administration. Working for our constituents, the SNP are bringing investment, opportunity and transformative change to the people of South Lanarkshire.”
Proposals will now go before a council committee on October 30.
This is a great opportunity to move Hamilton forward