Horncastle will benefit from high street task force support

The Task Force, an alliance of place-making experts who are working to redefine the high street, requested that East Lindsey District Council nominate a specific local high street to receive their professional focus in order to create the best vision and strategy for the area.

Having worked closely with stakeholders in the district’s market towns through their Vital and Viable programme, the district council has put forward Horncastle to receive the task force support.

This will help to boost the town’s Vital and Viable action plan with long-term, legacy projects and provide professional guidance to local groups who are already working to help develop the town further.

An expert member of the task force will now visit Horncastle to identify what support would be most beneficial in the town before developing a detailed programme of activities, which may include mentoring, place-making workshops, and training programmes for place managers and leaders.

The council will ensure that valuable learning from the programme is shared throughout the district as it takes forwards the Vital and Viable action plans in Louth, Alford, Spilsby and Wainfleet in particular.

Assistant director for economic growth, Lydia Rusling said: “We were delighted to have been selected as one of the areas to benefit from the Government’s High Street Task Force programme.

“We worked with local businesses and communities along with the Institute of Place Management – who are a High Street Task Force Partner – to produce Horncastle’s Vital and Viable action plan.

“The added support the Task Force will help bring lasting change for Horncastle’s High Street.

“The expertise will focus on helping the town’s businesses and communities recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

“I am determined that the learning and experience we gain from working with the Task Force experts benefits all the towns across the district.”