The reopening of Market Street between Arthur and High Streets is being accompanied by plans to encourage people to spend more time in Blenheim’s CBD, according to Councillor and CBD portfolio holder Ben Stace
Stace says plans for the CBD extend beyond its current regeneration, with longer-term work focused on how people use the town centre.
“We’re looking at all sorts of longer-term options for events and good collaboration between businesses, the Business Trust Chamber, and council,” he says.
The goal is to give people a purpose to visit.
“We want to give people a reason to come back into town and make it a nice place to spend time and spend money and meet with people, as kind of the longer-term vision.”
The comments come as Business Trust Marlborough launched a Shop and Win initiative in collaboration with CBD businesses last week.
Until 20 December, shoppers who spend a minimum of $20 at participating retailers can enter a draw to win a $4000 travel voucher.
Business Trust Marlborough manager and councillor Brian Dawson says the initiative is part of efforts to encourage people into the town centre and to shop locally.
“I think there’s no better time to come into town and see what’s been achieved already and see what will continue to be achieved.”
The second stage of the redevelopment remains underway, with Stace pointing to the upcoming opening of the Alfred Hotel as one reason for progressing the work.
He says the longer-term vision is for a town centre where people can park, walk through the CBD, sit, meet others and visit local businesses.
“There’s going to be nice areas to sit and catch up with people and pop in shops, and that’s kind of what we’re after.”
Parking is also part of the conversation around encouraging people into the CBD. Stace says council is working to remind people about Blenheim’s existing one-hour free parking, including the ability to stop and start the free period through the parking app.
Longer-term changes to parking are being discussed, but Stace says these would need to go through the council’s Long Term Plan process.
He suggests that changing how people use town centres is a wider issue, particularly as large-format stores move towards areas such as Westwood.
“How we use town centres is changing, but that’s definitely a longer-term issue that we’re going to have to tackle,” he says.
Stace said announcements about further initiatives would be made as plans develop.
