Chairman's Announcement

The Chairman of Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership, Peter Picken today announced his decision to step down from the position. 

“I have been involved in Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership since it started 16 years ago and Chairman for over 10 years. During this time the Partnership has achieved a great deal on behalf of Kidderminster Town Centre including organising the annual Christmas lights display, participating in the appointment of the first Town Centre Manager, introduction of the town centre magazine “Inkidderminster”, Street Markets, participating in the Skillsmart project, arranging the first town centre Charity Fashion Show which raised £750 for Kemp Hospice and the first Kidderminster Canal Festival. During this time the retail offer of the town has grown significantly.”

“The original aim of the group was that it should be made up of Influential Retail and Business Operators to market the town and organise events ensuring it could compete against other local retail communities. There is now renewed interest in the town centre from the retail community and I welcome the potential involvement of national retailers in helping to guide the management of the centre. In the current economic climate the business community needs a high level of support and focused effort to keep the town centre vibrant.  Whilst the town is holding its own in terms of vacancy and fairing better than many towns, there are still significant challenges and after much consideration I have decided that now is the right time for me to retire as Chairman of Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership.  I would like to take this opportunity to wish Kidderminster Town Centre Partnership well in all its future endeavours to support our business community. The partnership must become a more powerful voice for town centre businesses and it seems right that the business community now has the opportunity to elect a new Chairman. This will happen at the next AGM meeting planned for November 2010.”

Stephen Clee, Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration at Wyre Forest District Council, congratulated Mr Picken on the achievements of the Town Centre Partnership during his tenure as Chairman. He also reflected on the need for the Partnership to rise to the challenges being set through the Kidderminster ReWyre Regeneration Initiative and called on the town centre business community to come together and help guide the delivery of services in the town centre. 

Councillor Clee commented that “As a partner in the Town Centre Partnership, I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Peter on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council for all his hard work and commitment to the town over the years.” Looking to the future he continued “These are very challenging times, but we remain committed to delivering regeneration. As part of the Kidderminster ReWyre Initiative, the District Council has earmarked £120,000 to improve town centre streets and spaces. I would encourage the town centre business community to get behind the Partnership and have a greater say in the decisions affecting the centre. To do this it will need to become more representative of the Town Centre community.”

Issue date - 4th October 2010