Hanham High Street
Hanham High Street is to get £395,000 of investment after a successful bid for funding from the ‘Love Our High Streets’ programme.
The plans include refurbishing the public toilet block on the corner of Laburnum Road, installing new planters and benches, and improving the bus stops and street signs.
New murals and public artworks will also be installed to help revitalise the High Street.
The cash has been obtained by South Gloucestershire Council through the West of England Combined Authority’s (WECA) Love Our High Streets Fund. The council says the package of upgrades was developed in partnership with traders and the local community.
Detailed designs will be put together over the summer and work is expected to start early next year.
The proposed programme of work has been welcomed by the area’s local Conservative councillors and the Hanham Business & Community Partnership.
The toilet block will be refurbished
Cllr June Bamford, who represents Hanham on South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I am thrilled to see this significant investment coming to Hanham. High streets across the country have struggled in recent years due to changing consumer behaviour, and it’s good to see that here in South Glos we are committed to doing as much as we can to help local businesses.”
Brenda Langley, who also serves Hanham on South Gloucestershire Council, said: “The programme of works to improve the High Street is really exciting, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it will look when it’s finished.
“New planters, benches and street signs, along with the retention of free parking, will make the High Street look much more appealing and should help to increase footfall in the years to come.”
Councillors June Bamford, Matt Pitts & Brenda Langley
Cllr Matt Pitts, who sits on Hanham Parish Council and is standing as a candidate in May’s district council elections, said: “This investment is just what Hanham needs. The plans have already created a bit of a buzz locally.”
The chair of Hanham Business & Community Partnership Bernard Jackson said he is pleased in particular that the toilets are to be upgraded as a lot of public conveniences around the country are being closed.
While there is free parking available at the council-owned Laburnum Road car park, he said the partnership, supported by local councillors, are still pushing for parking to support the High Street to be made available at the old Kleeneze site just off the High Street as part of that land’s redevelopment for housing. He said there is a “perfectly good car park” there already, just off the Martins Road entrance, that could be retained.
The old Kleeneze site
