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News for Weston-super-Mare Central Ward from local councillors Mike Bell and Robert Payne : serving you on North Somerset Council and Weston-super-Mare Town Council Learn more

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Call for “forgotten” town centre streets to get support

by mikebell on 11 July, 2018

A campaigning local Councillor has called for “forgotten” business areas in the town centre to be given more support by the council.

Despite significant investment in the town centre in recent years, some streets have missed out on help and regeneration. One such street is St James Street, which has been hit by the delayed Dolphin Square development, but received little practical help.

Councillor Bell said: “St James Street has been forgotten by the council. Traders in the street and the surrounding area have suffered significantly from the demolition of Dolphin Square and the long delays in getting the development started. Even now, the street borders the empty and undeveloped plot for the next “phase”.

“There has been no significant improvement works by the council in St James Street, which is full of varied, independent traders. I’ve had numerous meetings with the traders and took them to see the council chief executive, Mike Jackson, and regeneration officials, but it has only resulted in warm words, no action.

“St James Street is not unique, of course, Orchard Meadows has similarly been neglected. However, St James Street and the businesses in that area have had to bear the brunt of the development impact and been given precious little support to do so.

“The council does not have a money tree, but it is hard to understand how so much money can be spent on pet projects of questionable value, such as the recent road layout changes in Alfred Street and Alexandra Parade, but nothing can be found for highway, signage or place-making projects in St James Street.”

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