Flintshire Town Centre Recovery

Part of 4. Questions to the Minister for Housing and Local Government – in the Senedd at 2:51 pm on 24 June 2020.

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Photo of Hannah Blythyn Hannah Blythyn Labour 2:51, 24 June 2020

Absolutely. I know the community bank in Buckley is an issue that the Member has been campaigning on vigorously for a number of months now. We can see the impact not just that would have in terms of to mitigate against the economic challenges we may face post COVID-19, but in terms of actually how we both regenerate and provide footfall back into our town centres. As we take forward the town centre first principle, the co-location of services is going to be central to realising that and actually looking at actually how we best use our town centres and how we best drive the experience and get people back into towns.

I think it's worth the Member noting that, particularly under our transforming towns capital programme, investment has been targeted at a number of priority towns, which were identified by local authorities, and local authorities across north Wales have previously identified those towns and looked to the likes of Holywell and Shotton within Flintshire, but there'll be shortly an opportunity for local authorities to reprioritise their town focus should they wish to—so, if I can perhaps encourage the Member to have those conversations with the local authority and other representatives.

And I do remember—one final point—that I did previously promise the Member that I would come and visit Buckley, and I'm sure, if circumstances allow, that we can rearrange that visit, because I'm keen in this piece of work now to make sure we find greater ways to involve people, organisations and businesses in communities to best be enabled and empowered to have a greater stake and say in their success in the future.