Hundreds of thousands of pounds could soon be invested to improve Swansea city centre for traders and visitors.
Measures including a loan scheme to help independent businesses, additional car parking discounts for motorists and new vehicle and pedestrian signage are among those that could be soon be put in place.
Swansea Council’s Cabinet is being asked to approve the investment of £380,000 into projects identified as priorities in a city centre action plan.
The action plan was put together to help boost trade in the city centre during a difficult economic climate when competition from out-of-town retail parks and internet shopping is intense.
Other priorities identified include the provision of more short-term parking in the city centre, the installation of floral decorations and hanging baskets and a campaign to help reduce the amount of chewing gum litter on our streets.
Cllr Chris Holley, Swansea Council Leader, said: “We have listened to the concerns of city centre traders and, if backed by Cabinet, the funding of the schemes prioritised by the action plan will give them a helping hand.
“But we have to remember these are very tough economic times across the UK and the concerns traders have here are being echoed in many towns and cities across the country.
“This is why I’d also ask the public for their help and to visit the city centre as much as possible to discover everything that’s available there and support our traders.”
Some schemes identified by the action plan have already been kick-started. A discounted car parking scheme at the High Street multi-storey car park has been introduced and Swansea Council and Swansea BID have invested £30,000 in specialised equipment to remove chewing gum from city centre streets and pavements.
Other schemes that could soon be set into motion if the priority spending is approved by Cabinet include improvements to vehicle junctions and pedestrian crossing points in the city centre.
More events could also be arranged for the city centre to boost footfall and funding could be sought to gate off crime and anti-social behaviour hotspots.
