FLINTSHIRE Council has outlined its plans for helping revive town centres after the pandemic.

Councillors were updated on the current challenges facing town centres and worked to set out regional and local responses being put in place.

Niall Waller, service manager for enterprise and regeneration at Flintshire Council, said challenges for town centres that were there pre-COVID have since been accelerated.

He said: “The growth of online shopping skyrocketed during the pandemic and is not likely to drop down to where it was before. We still have issues that about the remote ownership of properties – of quite large shopping centres in some towns that really are struggling for viability.

“In towns there are not huge numbers but there are small numbers of long-term vacant units which serve to blight the area they sit in.”

However, he remarked that a strategy has been outlined and senior cabinet member will review this in the next week.

He outlined that the council’s programme is looking again at town centres and helping to shape them for the future:

This included:

• reducing the number of long-term empty properties in town centres;

• finding more sustainable uses for retail units and increase community enterprises on the High Streets;

• planning to repurpose less viable shopping centres;

• developing starter units for new retail enterprises in town centres; and

• co-ordinating and supporting all interventions with a consistent approach to ensure the regenerative effects of investment and resource are used to their maximum advantage.

Within the last few days, the council announced that it is looking for those interested in funding to help town centre regeneration projects.

The council asked that people who wish to express interest for funding - that will be provided through Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme – to come forward.

A further statement was issued after the environment and economy overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday by Andrew Farrow, Flintshire Council’s chief officer for planning, environment and economy.

He noted that, despite the lockdown measures, there has been significant progress made across towns in Flintshire.

However, he claimed that more is needed to help get Flintshire towns back on their feet.

He said: “In order to continue to deliver this programme effectively, there will need to be increased resources available. The regeneration team currently stands at two individuals with recruitment for a third underway.

“It must also be recognised that the proposed approach will place demands on other teams in the council to deliver specialist advice and support, for example property and legal services.”

He added that more funding will also need to be available.

He continued: “Since the last report in March 2020, new opportunities for investment in towns have emerged and the council intends to take full advantage of these new opportunities to support the growth and development of our town centres.”