Regeneration Scheme hopes to bring Newark 'out of a slump'
A newly formed regeneration group hopes to bring Newark "out of a slump" and address social mobility.
The group involving independent business owners and local organisations is coming together to create an action-based network for the town.
Lucy Odlum-Pegler, organiser at the Newark Regeneration Scheme, says the town has everything it needs to thrive, but by promoting and connecting the community – its future can be secured.
Lucy is the owner of Wild Ways on The Arcade which is a book store, Table Top club and community venue.
She describes her business as somewhere people can play new games, share their passion, and learn the value of community.
And by taking on the Regeneration Scheme she hopes to achieve similar goals by linking business supply lines, creating new products and tackling waste to ensure Newark can thrive as a market town once again.
“After speaking to other independent business owners I realised there was a theme coming up – that people within the town feel like they are struggling alone – with things like anti-social behaviour, smashed shop windows and decreased footfall," says Lucy.
“I decided action needed to be taken to secure Newark's future for the younger generation who may feel there's nothing for them in this town.”
Initiatives set out by the scheme:
Bread beer
One of the scheme's aims is to reduce food waste and one project set out by Lucy, includes rounding-up left over food from businesses at the end of each day, including bread, to put to good use. This could involve store's making bread beer to offer customers or even just taking unwanted items to local food banks.
Composting schemes
The introduction of a composting scheme is being promoted by the Regeneration Scheme, by gathering unusable food from local restaurants and businesses to create compost that can then be distributed across the town. This may include assisting the district council in cutting costs by offering it to be used within council grounds and garden centres.
Local Amazon
The idea of a local Amazon hopes to cut out big business and focus on what the local town has to offer instead. For example, purchasing items like gadgets and technology within Newark, rather than cheaply online or elsewhere – has the potential to boost the local economy.
The group meets twice a month, one for a general meeting and the other dedicated to the Sustainable Food Cities Program which now functions in 48 towns and cities across the UK.
It seeks to adopt the local food industry, make healthy food more accessible and create community-led events to tackle issues surrounding social mobility.
Lucy says: "We want to be able to build the local economy but also address rising food poverty and accessibility to healthy food – which is why we are promoting the sustainable food programme. It's all about coming together to see what can be done about reducing as much waste as possible.
"Newark is just coasting along at the moment, people are suffering from a lack of footfall and feel under-represented. It has clear issues but has great potential for change and getting out of this mentality that everyone has to do everything on their own."
The scheme – created by the community for the community – has recently obtained external support from a number of interested bodies wanting to help Newark out of its “economic slump".
But Lucy says there needs to be a collective town and volunteer effort, therefore encouraging anyone who is the slightest bit interested, to come to a meeting and get involved.
She adds: “Newark has everything it needs to make it thrive, the history, the character, the businesses and organisations and most importantly, the people. And it is because of these things, that we have to do something now."
READ MORE:
Teenager admits to kicking bird in video
Social mobility issues in Newark and Sherwood making progress
NHS calls for Notts families to talk about organ donation
