Yahoo News Traders in historic left behind Beverley Road high street react to 'sorely needed' regeneration project
It was once a thriving high street served by its own station boasting some of the finest historic buildings in Beverley Road.
But the Stepney area of Beverley Road, between the former station building and Park Lane has since fallen on hard times. A community of traders including restaurants and takeaways, hair salons and shops remain but abandoned shops have encroached onto the area, becoming magnets for vandalism.
But that could all soon be about to change following the announcement that the area will receive £500,000 to turn it around, including by taking over empty shops. Government ministers and Hull City Council have hailed the funding, which follows an initial grant of £237,000 and promise of new rental auction powers as transformational for the area.
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Action to remove 47 tonnes of waste and graffiti went ahead in March and there are plans to improve green spaces, add more and create places to socialise. LDRS visited Stepney and spoke to traders who gave their verdict on it being one of 10 chosen for the Government's High Street Accelerator pilot scheme.
'We could improve everywhere'
Sarah Dixon, of the Exotic Hub pet shop, said doing something with vacant shops in the street made so much sense. She said: "There's not much space for more green space and there might be issues with the property owners if things are attached to their shops.
"There not a lot of space on the pavement, so why not create a youth club or something in the empty units for the young people to go to? It would make much more sense.
"We see groups of feral kids on the street wondering around and there's nothing for them to do here, the area's changed so much. A few of the traders here know each other and we get on really well, we help each other out but there's only so much we can do.
"We're here all hours of the day and at night we've seen youths drinking alcohol and smashing bottles, and not just young people but older people too who should know better. We moved into this unit three weeks ago and we were on the other side of the road from last August.
"I've lived on Beverley Road my whole life and I've seen it change a lot. It's gone downhill, when I was young it was a brilliant place, we used to go to out and about but now I wouldn't take my kids to part of it because it's too dangerous.
"And it can't just be blamed on a lack of police officers because we see police cars going up and down here all the time. We could improve everywhere with this money."
'It's not like it was in the past'
Anna Godyn, of the Kuchnia Polish restaurant, said that if just a few more new businesses were encouraged to open it could kick start the revival of Stepney. She said: "I opened this restaurant about 17 years ago, when we started Beverley Road was so busy and nice.
"But then things changed and the businesses started moving out to Newland Avenue and Princes Avenue. It's great to hear that something's been done to bring the area back to life.
"In 2007 there were so many pubs and shops here, since then it's gotten harder to run a business here. The weekends are still busy for us but in general it's not like it was in the past.
"One of the problems is the drinking and drug taking that goes on on the path by the old station building. For me when the improvements come I'd like to see more greenery, I like the idea of having more places to socialise.
"And when you get one or two businesses coming into the empty units that attracts more people to the area. Everyone's prospects go up and things get going."
'Money is sorely needed'
John, who works at the Victoriana fireplace shop, said more attention was needed on the less prominent buildings in the street which housed the businesses that powered its economy. He said: "The money is sorely needed and overdue.
"We've been open for 30 years, we've seen everyone come and go. It hasn't changed all that much during that time, it's always been how it is now and it's always needed investment.
"What's happened to this area isn't too dissimilar to what's happened to all those on the big four main arterial routes into Hull. Though it might be slightly worse here in terms of vacant shops and antisocial behaviour.
"We're a destination shop, we get people coming from as far away as London. So we're not really affected by footfall in the area but a lot of our customers have voiced concerns about coming to the area in the past.
"More green space would be a great improvement for this area, and the graffiti's out of control. A really good general spruce up is what this place needs, it needs investment and regeneration and not just for the prominent buildings."
What Hull City Council and the Government says
A community consultation on plans for the cash is set to begin on Monday, May 20 and Sculcoates Park is one of the areas earmarked for improvements. There are also plans for landscaping, planters and community art.
John Scotney, chair of the Stepney Accelerator Partnership, said funding would help the whole of the area but particularly the most neglected parts. Mr Scotney said: "These improvements will not only raise the morale of current residents and businesses, but will make Stepney more attractive to potential new residents, customers and traders."
Council Communities Portfolio Holder Cllr Jack Haines said people had said things had already improved since the clear up operation in March. The councillor said: "One resident mentioned how nice it was to be able to get out into their garden again with the waste gone.
"People want us to get the basics right. This project and funding is doing exactly that."
New powers set to come into force in summer will allow councils to take control of empty shops and auction off a lease on them for up to five years. Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said the changes and funding aimed to keep areas including Stepney alive and flourishing.
The minister said: "Coupled with the new powers we’re giving to councils to rent out persistently empty spaces, our High Street Accelerators programme will make our towns more welcoming and pleasant places for people to enjoy."
A council survey on the Stepney High Street Accelerator programme is open for comment from Monday until Sunday, June 16 here.
