Community engagement: update from Areli regarding The Walnuts Shopping Centre

LIKE so many events across the country, it was disappointing to postpone our Community Planning Weekend - the start of our journey together reshaping Orpington town centre and the Walnuts Shopping Centre. Areli are committed to working closely with the local community to help shape the future.

Prior to our event, our community team spoke to around 100 local people about the town centre. The key themes were:

• To make the town centre focus on serving the needs of the whole community

• Provide a pedestrian priority central zone with trees and open spaces

• Create a place to bring the community together

• Improve connections to local green spaces

Key stakeholders at a preview event back in February

Over the next few months, we will continue to listen to the community’s views. We will invite you to tell us your dreams, problems and solutions for the town centre via newsletter and on our website. Our team will also be hosting online focus groups for local community leaders.

We hope by the end of the summer, we will be able to meet again in person for our Community Planning Weekend. We wish all of the Orpington community well during these challenging times and look forward to working together soon.