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Live events can create healthy high-streets.

Live events are really important to people and locations. Live events have many positive impacts; economic is the most obvious,the additional people coming to an area each of whom is spending on travel, perhaps accommodation, food, drink and services such as taxis and buses, all drop additional revenue into an area. In addition if the event is more locally based, for example a shopping area, then the retailers will feel the added benefit as more people come into the area and spend in the shops and cafes. This area of events is of particular interest to me.

Over the course of a number of years the high street has been eroded. About 16 shops are closing every day as retailers restructure their businesses and more shopping moves online, yet we see more what I would term ‘micro shopping centres’ being built in order to drive footfall to local areas - in our instance here in Addlestone we have Addlestone One. It opened last year, but with only a few units open it hasn't reach its potential. In my opinion this area has potential - its modern, has a couple of restaurants and a great cinema (The Light) but has a number of vacant units. Proving footfall will be key to driving new tenants. How do you drive footfall.....? Pop in a few events - dwell times and footfall will increase and this will make for happy retailers and a healthy high-street.

Other benefits include community building and civic pride - by bringing people together to enjoy music, perhaps a show, or just simply Christmas Carols helps draw communities together and aids the development of local pride and shared experiences. Woking does this well with its summer garden and Xmas market. Importantly these things have to be invested in for the longer term - they can’t be one off, it doesn't work like that. High streets need to offer more than just shopping getting people motivated to come out and experience something different or even familiar is key to the longer term footfall and the health of the high-street.

Engaging with local artists, community groups and talent is a good thing to do - its great to be able to promote local talent and the chances are they have a following of people who will support them - instant crowd!

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