A deserted UK town full of boarded up shops will soon be given a massive £10m makeover; however, critics fear these last ditch efforts are too little, too late. Run down shops bright the streets of Long Eaton, located on the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire border.
The large town has fallen into disrepair with a dark cloud covering the area with laughter and chatter being replaced with an almost eerie silence. However, ambitious projects are in the pipeline that will aim to give the town a “vibrant new look”. A £10million project to transform Long Eaton’s High Street is set to begin next spring, marking a significant step in the town’s £25million regeneration.
The scheme to revitalise Long Eaton’s High Street was previously scheduled for September this year. However, Erewash Borough Council now expects work to start in May next year and be completed by May 2027.
The mission will focus on seeing the community get maximum benefit from the budget. The investment in the street will see it pedestrianised, with more benches and greenery put up.
The town will also see a new “central square”, new architectural features, more seating and features to celebrate the local furniture industry.
Although this may sound great, locals appear to be rather pessimistic with many fearing the glory days of their once thriving town are long gone.
Walking around Long Eaton, NottinghamshireLive reporter Sophie Fagone Buscimese said: “I thought that all sounded fairly positive, but upon parking my car and walking onto the High Street I found my thoughts resonating with those of shopkeepers and the (very few) shoppers: Perhaps it’s too little, too late.”
Residents believe adding a few benches and adding a touch of green will fail to take the town out of its slumber.
One exasperated local told NottinghamshireLive: “It’s just too far gone. “There’s no saving it anymore”.
Whilst one worried pub owner believes the benches would invite more room for yobs to hang around late at night, which his customers had expressed worry about.
Writing for NottinghamshireLive, Sophie said: “Everyone I spoke to told me they’d happily trade some new bushes and benches for reduced business rates and rents as well as other incentives to bring people back to shopping in person, such as a farmer’s market.
“When making my rounds stopping at the small number of businesses that were open on the Friday afternoon, shopkeepers had specific ideas about what the area really needed.”
The reporter argues that “getting rid of blue bays and installing benches won’t do the trick” and that locals should have more of a voice where the money is being spent.