Gallery: Welwyn Garden City town centre is 'Tatty and tired'
SHOPPERS are in danger of being driven away from WGC town centre – because it is getting tatty and tired. That is the view of the WGC Society. Its comments follow a report from experts employed by Sainsbury s as part of its redevopment brief. WGC Society
SHOPPERS are in danger of being driven away from WGC town centre - because it is getting tatty and tired.
That is the view of the WGC Society.
Its comments follow a report from experts employed by Sainsbury's as part of its redevopment brief.
WGC Society secretary Shaun O'Reilly, told the WHT it was vital the town started to look good again, if traders were to survive the credit crunch.
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He said: "We will lose customers in WGC if we do not improve the town centre.
"It is important because in this recession every town centre has to fight for a piece of action.
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"You don't get people if you look tatty and tired. The town centre has to be looked after properly."
Many of the areas of concern are highlighted in the society's latest newsletter.
Also mentioned are some of the points made in Sainsbury's redevelopment design statement about the town.
It states: "Unlike most of the vegetation, the paving and street furniture looks tired, poorly maintained and generally has a neglected appearance.
"Much of the paving used is very basic concrete paving slabs...which creates an unattractive and monotonous floorscape.
"Where slabs are replaced, the whiter colour of new slabs leads to an untidy patchwork appearance.
"Additionally, slabs have become uneven and broken in places."
It also says the street furniture has mismatched styles and materials creating an "uncoordinated impression".
Mr O'Reilly said the slip in standards was down to "a lack of attention".
Mark Boringdon, Welwyn Hatfield Chamber of Commerce chairman, said: "One of the reasons people come to WGC is because it is a garden city.
"Being a garden city is a seller, it starts to become a selling point in these times.
"Clearly if the town start to look shabby it doesn't help.
"Truthfully, I think this sort of thing needs to be kept on top all the time."
Mr Boringdon said it was down to everybody in the town centre to sort the mess out, not just the council.
He said: "Landlords and tenants have a reason to maintain and keep their area looking as good and sharp as they can.
"It's investing in our future. We have to keep the place looking good so it's a nice place to be.
