Hyde is to be given ‘expert’ support to breathe new life into the town centre and recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The town is one of 70 nationally to be selected for the High Street Task Force Programme (HSTF) after being put forward by Tameside council.
The High Street Taskforce is an initiative that was announced by the government in March, which will run until 2024.
It will provide support to local leaders in town centres and high streets in England in the form of providing ‘expert advice’, training and data.
Tameside council will work with the task force team to diagnose Hyde’s ‘key strengths and challenges’ and develop a ‘prescription’ of transformation so it is best placed to serve the community now and in the future.
The package of support will include targeted expert consultancy, mentoring, workshops, access to local footfall data, and training programmes.
Director of growth, Jayne Traverse told a meeting of the executive cabinet: “This doesn’t involve funding so we’re not entering into any funding agreements with this, it is merely support from a task force at this stage.
“They want to facilitate some events with business leaders, with ward members and other leaders in Tameside in order to bring some fresh ideas and fresh thinking.”
An expert advisor will be appointed ‘immediately’ by the task force who will begin to undertake desk based research around Hyde town centre.
This will be followed by the advisor conducting a half day ‘diagnostic visit’ to Hyde.
Once a tour of the centre has been undertaken, the advisor will look to meet with local ‘place makers’, ward members, council staff and other key stakeholders in a three hour workshop.
A data dashboard will also be set up which will monitor things like footfall into the town centre.
Councillor Oliver Ryan, cabinet member for growth, said: “This is some great support that we’ve got for Hyde town centre.
“This will help us get Hyde into a position where we can masterplan, and further up the line to towns like Stalybridge and Ashton so we can complement our regeneration work.”
Council leader Brenda Warrington added the plans sounded ‘quite exciting’.
