Businesses sign up to charter as town centre enjoys renaissance

Dovercourt High Street traders have signed up to a new charter vowing to improve the seaside town’s appeal as it goes from strength to strength.

A total of 29 businesses – ranging from hair salons and coffee houses to gyms, estate agencies and shops – received money from the High Street Accelerator Project to enhance their properties as part of the Shop Improvement Grant Scheme.

They have all now signed up to the Shopkeepers’ Charter pledging to keep their shopfronts clean and tidy and so playing their part in boosting Dovercourt town centre’s appeal and visitor experience.

As part of the charter, each business will display a sticker which acknowledges its commitment to the High Street Accelerator Shop Improvement Scheme and Shopkeepers’ Charter.

Business leaders will also promise to do their best to ensure the High Street is a welcoming environment such as by ensuring rubbish and weeds are removed from the vicinity of their premises and encourage fellow business owners to do the same.

Paul Milsom, chairman of the Harwich and Dovercourt Tourism Group and owner of The Pier hotel and restaurant in Harwich, said: “First impressions are so important when it comes to visitors.

“We know Dovercourt is a great town with a fantastic community spirit and diverse retail offering but we want to ensure it is also attractive so people will want to come back again and again.”

Zena Smart, of It’s All Handmade artisan jewellery, craft and gift shop, welcomed the chance to be part of the Shopkeepers’ Charter. She said: “It’s always been my ethos to be that way and it’s encouraging everyone else to do the same.

“We’re more of a community now than we have been for many years and I think that’s gone towards that. The uptake of empty shops has increased vastly, we’ve got quite a few new people coming in, so for me that’s brilliant.”

Sharon Brown, from Shaz & Save general store, added: “I’m delighted to be part of the Shopkeepers’ Charter. The initiative is helping shopkeepers to smarten up the town and the High Street is looking so much better and, in turn, that’s encouraging people to visit.”

Dovercourt is one of ten towns nationwide to receive a share of £7 million of government funding to rejuvenate it and boost footfall. A total of £737,000 has been allocated to improve Dovercourt High Street and a number of initiatives have been launched to make the town centre more vibrant and attractive to visitors.

They include the introduction of new CCTV cameras to reduce anti-social behaviour, creating a new website which also serves as a database for businesses and organisations, and commissioning street light banners to give the town a distinctive branding and identity.

The High Street Accelerator Project is run by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and is led by a forum of local partners chaired by Mr Milsom and supported by Tendring District Council.

High Street Accelerator funds will also be used to strengthen transport links between the seafront, the High Street and park spaces, while green spaces will be added to the town’s retail areas and access routes into the town centre.