Sevenoaks Town Partnership

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* Please enter the following information

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* Do you agree with the overall Recovery Plan?

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* Do you agree with the methodology?

Please say whether you agree or disagree with the practical ideas numbered below

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* 1.  Sevenoaks would follow national public health guidelines and, where appropriate, national best practice as identified by the Association of Town Centre Management. Lessons will also be learned from other countries who are coming out of lockdown ahead of the UK.

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* 2.  Public confidence will need to be restored to encourage them back into shops and businesses.

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* 3.  Social distancing is likely to remain for some time. Could the High Street be closed to cars e.g. as a trial for three months? Currently there are few businesses open and the public can queue on the pavement. If more opened this would become congested. The space in the road would enable more social distancing and the opportunity for pop-up businesses e.g. street food for restaurants that are unable to open. Note: need to consider buses and deliveries.

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* 4.  Create an Action Plan and review Funding Opportunities.

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* 5. With our narrow paths could we organise that pedestrians only walk in one direction, preferably facing traffic, enabling pedestrians to step into the kerb if needed.

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* 6.  Car parking – people will need longer to shop. Giving benefits to those who have walked into town, rather than bringing their cars. Parking initiatives for those who must travel by car.

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* 7.  Could there be a benefit for more buses / park and ride? This could contribute to pedestrian safety – less traffic would make it easier to introduce one-way pavements for pedestrians. Previously it did work in Sevenoaks during the Bligh’s development, using the site off Otford Road, which is still available. At the time the plan was to develop a further park and ride, using space by Morley’s Roundabout to the south. Anything which could reduce vehicle use in the centre of the town would be helpful, and so maybe a joint plan with the National Trust to cut traffic using the Knole access off the High Street would be worth looking at.

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* 8.  Businesses have already started to work differently, delivering and extending opening hours as examples.

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* 9.  Need a consistent and strong campaign to promote Sevenoaks as a safe place to shop and do business.

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* 10.  All businesses regardless of sector to be encouraged to sign up and promote the same key message.

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* 11. What is Sevenoaks’ USP?

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* 12.  Remember the target audience for the campaign including all age groups.

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* 13.  Stag did attract up to 300,000 visitors per annum, which had a positive impact on the local economy. Like many leisure facilities it as risk due to COVID-19. Consider public crowdfunding / virtual fundraising events. Support re-development of key visitor attractions – Knole and Stag.

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* 14.  Promotion and marketing activity: social media (including WhatsApp groups, physical marketing – shop window competition, marked trails, flags in flag holders throughout the town, overhead banners.

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* 15.  Enhance the Customer Experience – move forward with proposals for the Cultural Quarter.

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* 16.  Events to encourage people back into town.
      ·       Open-air cinemas or activities that can be held as an easier way of socially distancing. 

      ·       Food event on the Vine, or restaurants serving outside of their restaurants. 

      ·       Interactive entertainment.

      ·       Photographic Exhibition to be held at Kaleidoscope Gallery of Sevenoaks Businesses 2020. 

      ·       Could we plan events with a moveable date to avoid adverse weather conditions?

      -        Can the Fireworks, Christmas Lights Switch-On, Pantomime go ahead? If so, how can it be made safe.

      -        We need to make sure that when we come out of lockdown Sevenoaks is a bright and cheerful place to come to. Could we aim for our best ever Sevenoaks in Bloom? It could have real community spirit, and perhaps people who don’t have gardens in Sevenoaks might like an area to attend to. It could bring real pride into the town centre.

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* 17.  Utilise all public open space – potentially for different uses to previous.

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* 18.  The market could be a key component in attracting footfall into the centre of the town. Maybe a covered market could be the right use for the Tesco site?

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* 19.  Add a list of businesses that are trading now to the Town Team’s weekly newsletter. Maybe a video of Andrew highlighting that the town is preparing a Recovery Plan. Comment from one member: “When I was thinking about this, I went onto the Town Team website and found the weekly newsletter. This hasn’t been advertised anywhere that I was aware of and we need to think about how we push traffic to the website, and I found it interesting and informative. I immediately circulated the link to my road WhatsApp group. We need to get that circulated so that the Town Team website is the go to website for information and perhaps a link with other parish councils websites (I live in Otford but it is relevant to people in my area too and it is people from these surrounding areas also that we want to encourage into the town)”. Perhaps businesses operating could also promote a link?

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* 20.  Could the town be open to different groups on certain days or times?

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* 21.  Could shops operate a click & collect service in their shops or by appointment only schemes?

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* 22.  Encourage more local workers. Will commuting to work become a thing of the past? Engage with as many local groups as possible.

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* 23.  Produce Back to Business Guide.

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* 24.  Business to Business - Businesses (such as solicitors, accountants, estate agents, Stag etc.) could team up with restaurants / cafes / shops etc. so that people who come in to use the business services stay in town longer. People who used to commute may be partially working from home in future, so we may have more people around to come into town. Encourage businesses and businesspeople to use local businesses more.

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* 25.  Sponsorship needs to be about working together, and not just money, to get your business name up. Sports clubs have sponsorship from businesses and perhaps they should be speaking to each other as a way of encouraging business between local clubs and businesses.

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* 26.  Sevenoaks should acknowledge the huge debt we owe to all those people working on the front line during the crisis, often putting themselves at risk, and celebrate what they did and recognise their achievements.

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* 27.  Sevenoaks should also celebrate the businesses and voluntary organisations which found new ways to make life more bearable for the community.

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* 28.  Before the shutdown the number of secondary school students in Sevenoaks was due to increase to nearly 6,000 by 2025. This is a big element in Sevenoaks’ social and economic life. Making the streets safe for them and ensuring young people can access schools will also be a priority.

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* 29.  Develop the planned Business Hub to enable businesses to start up again or downsize from business accommodation.

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* 30.  Bat & Ball Centre due to open in December 2020 enabling events, conferences, training, trade events – supporting local businesses.

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* 31.  Next Steps
   · Notes of Meeting and Draft Sevenoaks Town Recovery Plan circulated.
   · Review responses and incorporate where appropriate.
   ·  Produce Action Plan with designated tasks to different organisations or groups of organisations.

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* Are you or your business able to help with any of the practical ideas?

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* How can your business help?

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* Do you think any ideas are missing?

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