Community vision – the future

Theme 5. A vibrant Main Street

Few things irritate Callander residents more than our Main Street. A listed building being allowed to fall into dereliction without intervention, the empty shops, the lack of retail choice, the proliferation of coffee shops, traffic congestion … the list goes on. As previously highlighted, Callander offers little for residents and tourists in the evening. As one resident put it, ‘Callander is a ghost town after 5.30.’

The community cannot control who opens a shop or restaurant, or what they chose to sell. However, businesses have failed and their premises have lain unoccupied, some of them for years. Our consultation received some complaints about the number of charity shops but it might be argued that premises occupied by charity shops are preferable to empty store fronts.

The Charrette set out a vision of an attractive, pedestrian friendly town centre and noted that the “Main Street is badly in need of a significant upgrade to improve the quality of the environment for visitors and the local community alike. This is critical for the future wellbeing of local businesses and the town as a whole. Successful placemaking and a successful trading environment are closely interlinked.” (Callander Charrette, part 3, page 9.)

Good places draw people, people draw more people, and more people will drive a successful Main Street. Little has been done to address the recommendations made in the Charrette since the report was published, in 2012.

Solutions

i. Respect the Charrette

The Main Street needs to be made more attractive as well as pedestrian and wheelchair friendly. Transport Scotland and Stirling Council’s Transport Development Team should look again at the Charrette and work towards fulfilling the proposals set out in this report.

ii. Signage

Signage in and around the Main Street must be improved, reducing visual clutter by combining information into fewer signs and providing clear directions to paths, local attractions and facilities.

iii. Innovate to regenerate

A Main Street regeneration group should be established to identify innovative uses for empty shops and encourage new, start-up traders onto the Main Street to diversify the products and services available.

iv. Parking and traffic

Stirling Council should update their traffic and parking management plans. There should be a specific focus on the Main Street area (A84). Updated plans should include a formal study to identify which types of parking restrictions would best serve Callander – the people who live and work here, local services, businesses, and visitors.

Consideration should also be given to the following issues:

• a review of 20 mph speed restrictions
• a review of traffic management in Bridgend
• better enforcement for parking and speeding violations in the town and specifically along the A81, A84 and Invertrossachs Road
• better signs (Speed Indication Devices) to make drivers aware of the speed at which they are travelling.