Buxton business leader says coronavirus could spark new ways to rebuild town

Roddie MacLean, chairman of Vision Buxton, said ‘there would be casualties’ but he hoped once the Government’s social distancing measures were eased people would be motivated ‘to do things differently’.

Speaking about the disappearance of big brand names such as Marks & Spencer from the high street before the pandemic began Roddie said ‘they were already deteriorating as it was’.

He added: “We can’t really put that down to coronavirus – maybe people will start to realise how lucky we are to have what we’ve got here.

“This is a global problem but we’re certainly no worse off here than anywhere else - in many ways we’re better off.

“We have beautiful surroundings and we’re quite isolated from other places - some of the things people complain about in Buxton are actually a positive now.”

News emerged last week - as it did in places all over the country - that community facilities would be closing and major events would be cancelled.

Buxton International Festival (BIF) - which has been running for 40 years - was scrapped for 2020 as organisers said public health was of ‘primary concern’.

The town’s annual spring fair - which attracts thousands of visitors to the town - will not go ahead this year and nternational quarrying exhibition Hillhead has been postponed until 2021.

Speaking about the postponements and closures Roddie said: “People will still want to be entertained and they will still want a quarry exhibition when this is over.

“We’re not worse off than any other place - we just need to keep the enthusiasm and the inspiration to do better. “

In the weeks leading up to the virus’ spread in the UK High Peak Borough Council was preparing its bid for a share of the Government’s £1 billion Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) to revive high streets.

Vision Buxton, the Town Team and Civic Association criticised council plans for town centre development as placing too much emphasis on the outdated Springs Shopping Centre.

At the time of the council’s consultation over the plans High Peak leader Anthony McKeown said revisions had been made where possible but some alternatives were ‘ineligible for funding’.

Roddie said: “I would like to think that if we do get some time to ponder over the next few months we might be able to design a better system for community engagement.

“In my opinion the FHSF engagement was very poor - we need to do better. But we also need to look at the way we view our borough.

“Buxton and Glossop are different places but we need to get over the attitude that things which work well in Glossop won’t work well in Buxton.

“We have the opportunity to step back and look at things with some perspective now.”