INCREASING footfall, filling vacant shop units, changing people’s perceptions of Northwich and creating jobs are the priorities for the town’s Healthy High Streets programme (HHSP).

Following the announcement that Northwich had been selected as one of 100 new towns to be accepted onto the programme, business partners have met to discuss an action plan for the town.

Representatives from a range of organisations met to look at aims, objectives and targets and how they can be implemented in Northwich.

Around the table were Northwich BID manager Jane Hough, Bali Kaili from HHSP, Michelle Cash from Boots, Tracey Hatton from Greggs, Carol Simms from Marks and Spencer, Catherine Fox from Cheshire West and Chester Council, chairman of the Northwich BID Executive Board and owner of Curtain Magic, Gaynor Sinar, and Wendy Batey Gray, vice-chairman of the BID Executive Board and director of Northwich-based marketing and PR agency Solutions 24-7.

The programme has three aims, impact, collaboration and sustainability, and it was felt that by working together to make a commercial difference relationships can be forged and sustained, helping to create a healthy, positive environment which will help the town and the businesses within it.

Jane and Michelle will be heading up the initiative with support from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Bali and Jane ran through the programme’s objectives, which include increasing footfall, addressing the vacant units within the town, changing people’s perceptions of Northwich and ultimately creating jobs.

Ways in which these could be achieved were then discussed, and Bali, who is the programme’s manager for the North of England, praised Northwich and said the foundations were in place to make the initiative a success.

Northwich BID Manager Jane Hough was delighted with Bali’s perception of the town.

She said: “Bali seemed really impressed with the partnership working already in place here in Northwich and felt there was real passion and commitment shown by all in their aspirations to better the town.

“He commented on the public realm works, the levels of investment, the wide-reaching communications and the numerous beneficial projects that have either been recently undertaken or are on the verge of completion.

“Everyone came away from the meeting full of positivity and excitement and we all can’t wait to start implementing the programme to help the town continue to thrive.”