main content Facelift for local shopping parades

A number of local shopping parades will be the focus of an improvement programme aimed at reducing vacant units and making them more attractive to local residents.

Carlton Parade, Orpington, Kimmeridge Cross, Mottingham and Marion Crescent, St Mary Cray have been identified as priority areas, and coordination of council services such as graffiti control and cleanliness will smarten up the street scene. Longer term projects include the repainting of the mural in Mottingham and upgrading signage. Funding and staff resources from the local economy team have been committed to deliver these improvements.

"Working together with traders to identify problems specific to their area, we have developed an achievable programme of improvements. These follow on from the installation of hanging baskets and planter cubes this summer, which have been a huge success. I am confident that this work will make a tremendous difference to the success and survival of these local shopping parades that provide such an important hub for their local communities," said Colin Bloom, executive councillor for local economy.

At two other shopping parades in Clock House Road, Beckenham and Burnt Ash Lane, short-term parking has been identified as a problem, and options to resolve this will be put forward later this year. Similarly, ways to tackle anti-social behaviour, which has a detrimental impact on all these parades, will be sought working with the Community Safety Partnership.

Cotmandene Crescent in Orpington, which was the focus of an earlier improvement scheme, provides an example of the success of this type of investment, as vacancy rates have greatly reduced and the wide variety of new businesses based there now are reaping the benefits.

ENDS

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