'Movers and shakers' could build for Guild
Preston must start work on preparing for the 2012 Guild celebrations now to stop it being a disaster, according to a city business chief.
Frank McKenna, Chairman of the Downtown Preston In Business group, said that council leaders need to work with companies to ensure the physical regeneration of the city compliments the events for the civic celebration.
He said Preston could learn from the experiences of Liverpool and that city's preparations for this year's Capital of Culture.
Property developers Faisal Patel, of the Faisaltex group, and multi-millionaire Steve Jackson will speak at the networking group's next property forum in March, called Build for the Guild.
Mr McKenna said: "The time for Preston to be building up to the Guild is now. We have to make sure that the physical regeneration of the city is improving by 2012 as well as encouraging an entrepreneurial culture in Preston which can secure its future.
"Stimulating the night-time economy of the city and ensuring there is a strong events calendar, not just for the Guild but in the run up to it, has to be another priority.
"But, the first thing we need is a clear agenda of how the council and business can work together to make sure the 2012 celebrations really work well."
He said the issue of the Tithebarn regeneration, in particular the £100m Guild Legacy Building being proposed by Faisaltex for the former Tradex building in the city centre, had to be central to the preparations.
The ex-deputy leader of Lancashire County Council believes definitive answers are needed from Preston Council and the Preston Tithebarn Partnership, made up of developers Grosvenor and Lend Lease, on its proposals for the £800m plans.
Mr McKenna said: "I think from the point of view of businesses we want to see a more ambitious approach to preparations for the Guild from Preston, and a more self-confident one than we have seen in the past.
"What we need to do initially is get the council and some movers and shakers from the business community together, throw some ideas on the table, and take it from there."
He said Preston could learn from the experiences of Liverpool and that city's preparations for this year's Capital of Culture.
Property developers Faisal Patel, of the Faisaltex group, and multi-millionaire Steve Jackson will speak at the networking group's next property forum in March, called Build for the Guild.
Mr McKenna said: "The time for Preston to be building up to the Guild is now. We have to make sure that the physical regeneration of the city is improving by 2012 as well as encouraging an entrepreneurial culture in Preston which can secure its future.
"Stimulating the night-time economy of the city and ensuring there is a strong events calendar, not just for the Guild but in the run up to it, has to be another priority.
"But, the first thing we need is a clear agenda of how the council and business can work together to make sure the 2012 celebrations really work well."
He said the issue of the Tithebarn regeneration, in particular the £100m Guild Legacy Building being proposed by Faisaltex for the former Tradex building in the city centre, had to be central to the preparations.
The ex-deputy leader of Lancashire County Council believes definitive answers are needed from Preston Council and the Preston Tithebarn Partnership, made up of developers Grosvenor and Lend Lease, on its proposals for the £800m plans.
Mr McKenna said: "I think from the point of view of businesses we want to see a more ambitious approach to preparations for the Guild from Preston, and a more self-confident one than we have seen in the past.
"What we need to do initially is get the council and some movers and shakers from the business community together, throw some ideas on the table, and take it from there."
| Created: | 22nd May 2008 |
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| Last Updated: | 22nd May 2008 |
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