For more than 10 years Huntingdonshire District Council has been working with partnerships established in each of our four market towns Ramsey, St Neots, St Ives and Huntingdon to help ensure the vibrancy of the towns.

Projects undertaken are numerous and vary from Ramsey Job Search, which trains volunteers to help unemployed people back into work, to an engineering skills project which brings together business and schools to address skills shortages. Many special events are organised to attract people to the town centres and the partnerships are a much valued source of information and ideas on the development of the towns.

“Partnership efforts are undoubtedly having a positive effect on the viability of our town centres” said Councillor Andrew Hansard, Executive Councillor for Economic Development. Surveys of the number of people visiting the towns show that while nationally town and city centres are experiencing a decline in’ footfall’ of around 10 per cent, three of our four towns are showing increases.

A recent review of the partnerships structure by the district council concluded: “The work of the partnerships is extremely beneficial to the district, providing good value for money and adding value to the local economy”.  As a result the council has resolved to offer three year funding agreements to the four partnerships in return for their continued help in supporting the local economy.

The success of Huntingdonshire’s partnership model is being noticed nationally. Recently, representatives of the East Midland Rural Affairs Forum, district councils and town centre managers from across the East Midlands took part in a tour of our towns to learn about our successes. 

Martin Blackwell, Development Director of the Association of Town Centre Management, said: “The Huntingdonshire model where partnerships are well supported by the district council but maintain the independence to take into account local knowledge and need is a great example of best practice in town centre Management.” 

For more information about the work of town partnerships contact Sue Bedlow, Senior Economic Development Officer on 01480 387096 or by e mail using the link on the right.