WITH the economic situation around the world continuing to worsen it is so important that we do everything possible to support and nurture renewal at a local level.

Among the initiatives which are particularly important to this are our Jubilee Square project in New Malden and planned improvement to nearby Burlington School. Both are key parts of the council’s ‘Reimagining New Malden’ plans to regenerate this part of the borough. Jubilee Square is part of our heritage-led regeneration of the borough and will celebrate New Malden’s rich history and culture through projects such as local history boards and community artwork. It has already seen a series of community-led events to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last month.

In addition, to help regenerate New Malden further, there will be a brand-new swimming pool and leisure centre to replace the ageing Malden Centre. I would like to emphasise that the Malden Centre will remain open until the new facility is completed.

These schemes are breathing new economic, cultural and community life into the heart of New Malden at a time when our high streets are changing and now need to provide entertainment, leisure and cultural opportunities as well as shopping and dining.

A similar approach is driving our ‘Transform Kingston’ programme for Kingston town centre. By focusing on heritage-led regeneration we have been able to develop a proposal for the new leisure centre – set to replace the Kingfisher – which connects much more effectively with the neighbouring historic library, museum and Fairfield Park. The aim is to attract more residents and visitors to come and experience Kingston’s unique history and culture.

By providing a truly diverse offering in our town centres and making them places for employment, leisure, entertainment and culture as well as retail we will give our local economy the best possible chance to recover and thrive whatever the wider economic circumstances.

A good example of this approach is the council’s new agreement with the John Lewis Partnership, which is set to help create hundreds of new jobs over the next ten years by supporting the activities and growth of local businesses. It will see new affordable workspace at the Riverside and Creative Youth will animate the Undercroft as a cultural and creative hub and performance space.

Furthermore, next week Roundabout - the award-winning portable pop-up venue from acclaimed touring theatre company Paines Plough - will arrive in Memorial Gardens for a two-week run of shows. The FUSE Festival is also taking place in the borough until Sunday. These follow the first-ever Kingston International Film Festival which saw 99 films screened across five venues over three days.

It is, of course, very important that we continue to support other cultural events such as the Kingston Korea Harvest Festival and Tamil Harvest Festival, celebrating the wonderfully rich culture of our Korean and Tamil communities in and around New Malden. In addition, after a two-year absence due to the devastating impact of Covid-19 on community events, the Kingston Carnival is expected to return at the end of the summer.

So much of the renewal and regeneration our borough needs following the pandemic - and while faced with the economic uncertainty ahead - relies on creating vibrancy in our town centres. I am confident that our plans for regenerating town centres such as those in Kingston and New Malden will provide the ingredients for this to be achieved.