Hello,

I have been thinking about what sort of things might improve North Camp in Farnborough; my concern comes from the fact that recently some businesses that were on Camp Road have moved or closed. For example the Post Office has gone to Alexandra Road which takes away one of the hubs from Camp Road, which is the location that has the potential to act as a high street with a critical mass of destinations and a place where you have the chance to get a feel for some community. Other businesses that have closed include Fizzy Kids and the Blue Pig deli; these were two places that acted as a draw for locals. Also in the year or so before these two businesses closed, Biles Jewellers and the Manhattan Pizzeria were to be no more.

I am sure these businesses had good reasons for their closure – not enough business perhaps to justify continuation; perhaps the rates were too high or freeholders wished to use the property for something else; or in some cases retirement or emigration. But thus far I am not confident that what replaces them is really the sort of North Camp I would like to see.

I am not certain, but I think that the site where Fizzy Kids was will now be turned to residential purposes, as is the St John’s Ambulance site that has just been sold to developers nearby.

North Camp has always had a fairly independent set of traders which has made it quirky, and it has a great set of independent restaurants. However even with this it has on the whole failed to create a draw whereby small businesses can thrive and the local community can meet and be well served. I can only hazard a guess that this is because there is not enough of a strategic plan or a way of working together to ensure the right decisions are made and the most is made of what is on offer.

It would be such a shame if North Camp just became nail bars, betting shops and hairdressers. I am not saying that these businesses don’t have a place, they certainly do, but it would be so much better to my mind if there was some variety and if we could keep North Camp as a place where there are different businesses and community activities that offer an alternative to the homongenous high street and shopping centre (which is largely the way the main areas of Farnborough and Aldershot are headed). I am all for the improvements in Farnborough and Aldershot but to have some alternative and to not lose the character and potential of North Camp would be my preferred future for this neighbourhood. Recent closures and the decisions that follow make me doubt I can take even what there currently is for granted and I certainly think there is more to be made of North Camp.

So what might be the possibilities for North Camp ?

Perhaps a scheme where rates are such that local artists and crafts people can sell their produce and run classes and demonstrations. Pop up shops? Places for students from the University of Creative Arts to sell their art? Can the Council (Rushmoor) do something to encourage some developments that are innovative and support diversity?

Recently Grays Cafe opened in North Camp – it is a charity and as far as I can tell it is very popular – nice surroundings, good second hand books, jazz evenings etc. So this for me has shown that local people do want places to go and meet, mingle and entertain and be entertained.

There are actually quite a few things going on (see some noted below) and some successful high quality businesses (e.g. Woods Butchers, Shuzu shoe shop and Diwali restaurant) but they are not well “curated” and marketed as a whole, and therefore don’t create the buzz or sense of the collective needed for a place to become a destination or for a sense of community to be created. It would be great if there was a strong web presence, a shared plan of events and if, most of all, the Council supported a scheme to ensure small businesses and creativity was brought to North Camp to improve it – could the Council work with the community to encourage some sort of collective or charity? I was recently in Folkestone and they have a creative quarter – this is something that I think at some level could be emulated in North Camp. Their site says:

“The Creative Quarter is an area of Folkestone that has been developed by the Creative Foundation, a charity launched in 2002, to regenerate Folkestone through the arts, the creative industries and education. It is an amazing area of Folkestone, where people’s creativity is encouraged, supported and enabled to flourish.”

Is this possible with some encouragement from the Council or from North Camp Matters?

I admit I did find out today there are some great events taking place in North Camp/Farnborough this month. For instance there is a Festive Fairtrade Evening being held on 18th December at the Rushmoor Council Offices which will include a Michael Moore film and a guest speaker from Giving Africa; also an afternoon of Christmas carols and music on Sunday 7 December 3pm to 4.30pm at St. Mark`s Church and  a Christmas market on Saturday 6 December 11am to 2pm at Woodford Stauffer car park, entrance down little lane from Camp Road opposite the old Fizzy Kids site. The Christmas Market is in aid of the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice. These are of course events for the Christmas season, so it’s not typical, but good to see.

Anyway these are my thoughts so far – I am sure there are ideas that many people have – how can we keep North Camp and its quirky character, and improve it so the local community is well served?