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Town Centre Management has played an important part in the fight to protect town centres from decline. Initially it was just concerned with keeping the streets clean and safe, but it has gone on to bring the public and private sectors together around visions and strategies for the future of the whole town centre.
Reading has taken a number of steps in this direction. It was one of the first local authorities to adopt the concept of Town Centre Management, which has had a key role in the town’s renaissance. The success can be seen not just in the quality of the investment, or the popularity of the centre in the evening as well as the day, but also by the change of image that is taking place.
Ten years ago, very few people would have considered living in the centre of the town, now they are queuing up to acquire smart apartments. People from all backgrounds are enjoying the transformed centre together, and the continental style of the public realm. The public-private Town Centre Board is now having to think through the issues of having a growing resident population as well as a commercial one.
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