TAMWORTH business leaders have called for the revival of the northern end of Peel St during the country music festival after reports some shops were missing out on the CBD rush.
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Tamworth Business Chamber president Jye Segboer believes the quieter end of the main street could be transformed into a hub of food and entertainment with opportunities to gain sponsorship from the project.
His comments follow concerns raised by business owners at a public festival feedback meeting on Tuesday night with some proprietors urging council to ensure the street remains closed for the 2018 festival.
Tenants will draft a collective letter to council and state their case for the end of Peel St to remain closed until the 2020 event after a two-year extension ended this year.
Mr Segboer said the northern end of the street could open up the opportunity for a dining and entertainment precinct. “Opening the street will certainly diminish business, meaning they won’t be afforded the same benefits and opportunities as those in the middle of Peel St,” he said. “It’s important we don’t lose the grass roots of the festival in the sense it can’t be all jammed into one end of Peel St. Spreading it out would be more interesting and there is more space for buskers.
“What we should be looking at, is a separate zone under separate sponsorship, which would allow this end of town to become the food and retail end; we can look at food stalls and entertainment and something that could open itself up to another level of sponsorship for another organisation.”
Camping World business manager Roger Cupples was concerned of the financial impact if the street was reopened. He reported a downturn in traffic since Brisbane St was reopened to traffic, effectively splitting Peel St in two. However, businesses worked with council to revive numbers in the area.
“It was really good this year and we just want to continue to improve it every year; if they (council) vote no to our letter, we will pretty much be cut off from the festival and financially disadvantaged,” he said.
The Leader has reached out to Council for comment.
