The post you are reporting:
The trouble with the Old High Street in Folkestone is two fold, firstly De Hahn has left the redevelopment to a group of people of limited competence (The Creative Foundation) who have minimal experience in retail, little or no expertise in regeneration and absolutely no empathy to the historic fabric of the old town. This has led to the second problem which is a single minded obsession with arts and crafts to the exclusion of any other form of other retail, a desire on the part of their designers to rip the historic fronts off premises and replace them with plate glass monstrosities, overpricing of rents, far too slow development and regular confrontation with the planners and conservation officers who were broadly sympathetic to the stated aims and an almost non existent level of marketing support to their tenants. Consequently, those retailers, like myself who moved in have struggled, a number have gone bust, many more have shut up shop and/or moved to more complementary environments, leading to a lack of continuity, too many vacant premises etc. etc.
All sounds horribly familiar.
Where de Hahn has had success, is where he has been directly involved, such as the lower Lees and arts park, as well as the Folkestone Triennial and the Literary Festival. The plans for the Harbour area, however, will take years to come to fruition, as financing is scarce at the moment and de Hahn has made it clear he will not be the sole funding source.
So rich benefactors alone are not the answer, there needs to be direction, competent staff, clear vision as to where it is going etc.
