SPRINGTIME ...
The sad sight of an abandoned Chadds will soon be just a memory as the property's new owners spend £500,000 modernising it ready for top toy shop chain, The Entertainer, to move into part of the store.
Even the former Woolworths store could re-open if Peacocks and the London-based property owner can reach agreement on rental terms. A director of Peacocks, who gave up their stalls in the Buttermarket three years ago, confirmed the firm was keen to re-establish itself in Hereford with one of its flagship fashion stores.
Tens of millions of pounds has been invested in Hereford in the last couple of years and it is just the start of a 20-year long project to rejuvenate the entire city.
Spending on education, the seed corn of any community's future is huge. Already £32m has been spent rebuilding the 60-year old Herefordshire College of Technology as a 21st century seat of higher education,£6m rebuilding Riverside Primary School, Hunderton; a£24m scheme to rebuild The Hereford Academy, formerly Haywood High School, is getting underway; £17m has been spent upgrading the Royal National College for the Blind; and £9.5m has been invested by Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, on access roads and new office and business units at Rotherwas, the city's principal job creation zone.
Investment
Herefordshire Council has shown its commitment to the on-going development of the city centre by investing £2m remodelling High Town as the primary retail hub, and is currently spending a further £1.5m enhancing Widemarsh Street as a key shopping area, and an iconic gateway to the new retail and leisure facilities to be built on the old livestock market. These will complement the existing range of national and independent shops, when opened in two years.
Meanwhile, work has started on the new £8m out-of-town livestock market on the Roman Road, an important centrepiece for one of the UK's most important and successful farming regions. The easier access for farmers bringing their livestock to market, plus modern amenities, will help Hereford regain its prominence as one of England's leading farm markets. All this investment, much of it directly aimed at boosting retail opportunities in the city centre, is a firm indication that council policy is to protect and enhance what is special about Hereford's historic core, whilst ensuring the city grows its retail and leisure offer to visitors, just a few minute’s walk from High Town.
A key objective of the policy is to prevent the spread of out-of-town shopping units, particularly on Holmer Road, which could seriously harm city centre retailers.
Government has already earmarked Hereford for growth and is funding £20m worth of new infrastructure to lay the foundations for longer term development, including some 800 new homes, many in the affordable category, in a new urban village close to the city centre.
Looking to the future, Hereford can expect £650m to be pumped into the local economy, mostly by the private sector, as part of its redevelopment project.
A new multi-screen cinema and a department store are just two ventures the public can look forward to enjoying as the city shapes up for the rest of the 21st century.
There are a lot of companies - some already arriving- with faith in Hereford's future. A show of confidence by Herefordians in their own city will attract even more.
Ray Stone, former boss of Special Metals Wiggin, and chairman of the Herefordshire Group of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Hereford has tremendous potential. It's one of the best kept secrets in the UK, but we need to make it a more vibrant place to live and work. Creating new job opportunities is a priority, as is providing new shops and leisure facilities to attract more people to the city and boost the local economy.”