Town Centre Manager speaks out about Mablethorpe
Wednesday 8am - AFTER criticism by some members of the local community, Mablethorpe's Town Centre Manager has spoken out about her plans and aspirations for the area.
Town Centre Manager Karen Froggatt took up her post with East Lindsey District Council last September with the responsibility of improving the local economy and creating a vision the community can aspire to.
But some angry residents are asking what she is actually doing to benefit the town.
ELDC Coun Irene Burnett said: "People have stopped me on the street to ask what she is doing for Mablethorpe, because we are seeing no results yet."
Resident Terry Brown said: "I don't think the new Town Manager knows enough about our area or what her job entails."
But local businessman Richard Borthwick offered a different view: I've heard criticism things have not been done since she took the post. I think this is extremely unfair. She cannot be expected to correct 30 years of decline and neglect in a few months."
With ambitions to move forward the town's regeneration, Karen explained: "There is now a Town Partnership Board in place and we are currently working on our priority list with time-lines for what we want to achieve both in the short term and long term."
One of several schemes being investigated is for shop owners to be given a grant to makeover their shop fronts.
"It's quite apparent Mablethorpe has suffered from a lack of investment over the years and the High Street is in need of smartening up," Karen said.
"This would lift the appeal of the town centre and create a more pleasant environment for shoppers."
On plans to attract more tourists and improve things for residents outside the summer season, Karen said: "It's about improving the overall offer for visitors and getting Mablethorpe firmly established as a UK holiday destination.
"The Town Partnership will be working very closely with Neighbourhood Management on improving the quality of life for residents in the area. I would like to see a better retail offer for the town and more community activities."
Concluding, she added: "I would implore every landlord and business owner to look critically at their own premises and think about what they can do to improve the look and feel of it."
* For letters about the Town Centre Manager see page 9 of today's Mablethorpe Leader.
* Do you think the criticism is fair? Email your views to gemma.gadd@jpress.co.uk.
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Weather for Sleaford
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to -2 C
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