![]() The work builds on the approach taken in the ongoing East Suffolk Town Initiative that focuses on building local capacity to develop evidence-based solutions for boosting town centres.Īdvice was provided to all East Suffolk towns on the application of government guidance on Coronavirus and safer public places using People & Places’ guide to managing town centre streets & public spaces in 2020. It has done this through a combination of delivering locally-targeted practical improvements, supporting businesses and continuing to facilitate the evolution of town centre partnerships. The East Suffolk COVID-19 recovery plan articulates how East Suffolk Council has worked with the county council, towns councils and business associations across the 12 towns to respond to the pandemic. Similarly, data for late May, demonstrated that 72 per cent of people were changing their behaviour to avoid crowded public spaces. Data such as that provided by the Imperial College London and YouGov COVID-19 behaviour tracker data hub, for example, showed that in June over half of the population (53 per cent), were avoiding going in to shops always or frequently. The findings suggested that the local visitor economy was set to lose £251 million in 2020 (37 per cent of annual total) based on the then projected scenario.Īt the same time, tracking national trends has revealed customer reluctance to return to town centres over the summer. Responses from a July survey of East Suffolk small business including the retail, hospitality & leisure sectors, indicated 53 per cent were not trading and 20 per cent were unlikely to survive less than six months under current conditions (a further 57 per cent said it was impossible to predict).Ī COVID-19 tourism economic impact assessment prepared for East Suffolk Council in June 2020, indicated the importance of a buoyant tourism season. Around half of the district’s businesses were already alert to the importance of collaborative working to help boost town centre economies through events/activities (46 per cent), marketing/promotions (51 per cent) and local partnerships (47 per cent).ĭata from early summer indicated the vulnerability of East Suffolk businesses post-lockdown. Research that the People & Places Partnership undertook across East Suffolk’s town centres in 2019, showed that 75 per cent of businesses are independently-owned 21 per cent already forecasted decreasing turnover and 78 per cent valued the potential of the visitor economy. These towns are Aldeburgh, Beccles, Bungay, Felixstowe, Framlingham, Halesworth, Leiston, Lowestoft, Saxmundham, Southwold and Woodbridge, plus the Wickham Market village. East Suffolk is a ‘super district’ with a population of around a quarter of a million residents centred on 11 towns spread over approximately 50 miles north to south. ![]() The challenge facing East Suffolk Council in early summer 2020, was to quickly develop a COVID-19 recovery plan that matched the distinctive needs and capacity of its dispersed communities. ![]()
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