In many ways, Bewdley is the jewel in Wyre Forest’s crown, a beautifully preserved Georgian gem, which could thrive in the recession as thousands of Brits decide to holiday at home.

It’s recent trials have united the town’s leaders and key players as never before, so what better time is there to start looking at ways of ensuring it gets its fair share of the tourist purse?

Having spent some time over the last year discussing ideas and problems with local businesses, I’d like to pitch in a few ideas of my own and see what people think?

BEWDLEY

 

COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS

 

  1. Create new and relevant business association – This looks quite likely as for some time the Chamber of Trade has struggled to win the support of newer traders in the town. Sometimes these things need refreshing with new blood and new ideas.
  2. Increase support for the Town Council to take on issues with WFDC and WCC – The Town Council has been more or less emasculated by Wyre Forest DC, which is all fine and legal but it is the elected body of the town and better communication and respect between the town and district authorities could give the WFDC better eyes and ears in the town. The same goes for the relationship between the town and county, as the recent debacle over road works shows. According to the county, the Town Council didn’t turn up for planning meetings and according to the town, the County Councillor didn’t consult with them. Either way, this can be improved for the sake of residents and traders.
  3. Improve relationships between the SVR and new town association – Bewdley lost out badly when it ceased to be the terminus of the Severn Valley Railway. A traditional shuttle bus between station and town, better signage and a decent, large car park for commuters could change that situation. SVR and the town could both benefit from closer ties and the railway’s representation on the new trading association would help strengthen ties.
  4. Seek clarification as to what the BDT needs to access AWM grants –  The Bewdley Development Trust has the potential to do good things for the town but it seems to be hamstrung between decisions at WFDC and the development authorities. Time is running out for the BDT to become self-sustaining, so this needs addressing promptly.
  5. Start a Bewdley regeneration fund – Fund-raisers strengthen communities and lift the whole town. Bewdley needs to help itself as much as it needs outside assistance.
  6. Collaborate with The Bridge, BDT, Chamber of Trade current members – Town Council and Shuttle to create a public consultation for a new plan for Bewdley. Nothing enhances the chances of success than full community involvement.

 

A FEW IDEAS

 

  1. Dredge the river for boats – I realise this will attract a negative reaction from some anglers and newcomers on Severnside South, but it need not do so. Bewdley was built as a river port. Its quayside is ideal as the ultimate destination for river travellers, attracting business for the town, the railway, the forest and the safari park. It would add a real energy to the town on regatta weekend, especially. This is an expensive project as it means dredging a number of different points between Bewdley and Stourport. Clearly, it requires a lot of negotiation. The change in river flow will change the type of fish swimming here but for the better, adding variety and quality. For the residents of Severnside South and North, I believe the increased activity, while adding a small amount of disruption, is only returning the waterfront to the active part of the town it was built to be. 
  2. Establish a Bewdley Chartermark for local farmers, manufacturers and producers – It would be wonderful if it were possible to open a weekly market on Load Street as it was designed to support but for the moment, it makes sense for local food retailers to support local farmers and food producers. It makes a good selling point for visitors to know their food has been produced to high standards within the area. The same goes for products such as Bewdley beer, Totally Patched quilts, artworks, clay pipes, jewellery, stained glass and carpentry from the museum.
  3. Establish a Friends of Bewdley discount card – This is one for the new trading association but a Bewdley loyalty card could offer discounts in retailers, email notification of events and special benefits for SVR and Safari Park users. If also sold at those tourist attractions, it could increase the number of visitors continuing into Bewdley itself. There should also be a residents’ card that gives discounts to events etc and encourages locals to shop locally.
  4. Begin a Beautiful Bewdley competition to persuade landlords to improve shopfronts and houses – too many properties on Bewdley’s main streets look neglected. The regeneration fund and prizes for effort could reduce that problem.
  5. Establish SVR Shuttle line – This benefits all of Wyre Forest, cutting traffic between Bewdley, Stourport and Kidderminster, improving the viability of the Stourport Road industrial Zone, improving the SVR’s business and adding to the possibility of Kidderminster getting an hourly London service on Chiltern Rail as was originally planned. Interestingly, Chiltern has already approached SVR about running this service and SVR is keen to operate it itself.
  6. Open an SVR halt at the back of the Safari Park – Although the Safari Park is built for cars, safari buses could take pedestrian passengers from the Severn Valley Railway on trips through the park. This might decrease Bewdley Road traffic and increase business in Kidderminster and Bewdley. It would be a matter for the Safari Park and SVR to fund the project but WFDC planning dept should look favourably at the idea.
  7. Seek better parking and transport for Bewdley Station – a shuttle service between Bewdley, Foley Park and Kidderminster on the SVR is only possible if there is adequate and additional parking at Bewdley Station. This is a tough one to overcome but it needs addressing urgently.
  8. Seek arts funding for a theatre company such as Pentabus to come to Bewdley’s new St George’s hall – Bewdley should have the same cultural cache as Ludlow and the presence of a high quality fringe theatre company  here will add to the possibilities for cultural events.
  9. Move the fire station to Bridge House – the redevelopment of St George’s Hall and the library/medical centre complex offers the opportunity to put the fire station somewhere more effective and accessible than Dog Lane car park. Plans are in place to move it 100 yards but that still leaves emergency vehicles trapped by the Welch Gate bottleneck. Bridge house, across the river, is in disrepair and is partly for sale. With emergency traffic lights fitted either side of the bridge, placing the fire station there would give faster access to all parts of the town and Wribbenhall and would rid Bewdley’s waterfront of a hideous seventies eyesore.
  10. Ensure the new community/library/medical centre adds to the town’s aesthetic – the district council has asked that the new complex be a high quality modern design rather than a cheap mock-Georgian copy. This is commendable but runs risks. The architects have told me that budgetary short-cuts will make really good quality modern construction unfeasible. Unless the modernity makes a truly lasting positive statement, we could end up with a building little better and much bigger than the ones it replaces. The public need to watch this space very closely. Further, the single lane access from Load Street through to Dog Lane needs maintaining and it takes a small but vital amount of pressure off Welch Gate.

 

These are just a few ideas to think about for Bewdley. Clearly, they are not costed and so some may prove unviable as the economy changes but hopefully they’ll provoke more ideas. I’ll add more as they come up but please let me know your thoughts.