Distinct Appeal in Local Unity

Each of these centres appear of equal importance to many locals. There is a tendency with the residents of each town not to travel out of ‘their’ settlement to access other shops, services and facilities that are available within the Borough. This leads to each of the centres providing a similar range of opportunities, albeit at a different scale. This arrangement is a result of the way in which the three settlements have evolved and a perception that if needs are not met by the nearest centre it is unlikely that the other centres in the Borough will meet the needs either.

The centres are not only influenced by their proximity to each other, but their proximity to Leicester City Centre and the Fosse Shopping Park. Both of these offer large amounts of retail floorspace and attract national retailers. Nevertheless, the Borough’s centres are valued by the Borough’s residents.

The Challenges

The Town Centres like many other similar towns faces some typical challenges, local and regional, competition, public realm, access and infrastructure issues, the need to modernise its offer and attract investment in a different and fast changing business/consumer environment, the perceptions of local residents and business communities and of course organisational and funding stability. These matters have of course not been helped by the unprecedented challenges due to the pandemic. It is against this backdrop and the desire to continue to evolve and succeed that the concept of a better performing and managed town centre is being examined.

Following a Feasibility Study, a business led group, the Oadby, Wigston & South Wigston BID Task Group was formed. These individuals/ organisations have given freely of their time over to look at ways in which the Town could be improved. We are now starting the work on engaging with the wider business community to see whether a BID would be right approach.