GFSB participates in town centre regeneration consultation

The Gibraltar Federation of Small Businesses (GFSB) has provided feedback on early ideas for regenerating three key economic areas: Casemates Square, Chatham Counterguard and Main Street. There is currently no fixed brief or defined scope, so this round of consultation is specifically intended to gather feedback that will help shape the project from the outset.

The consultation involved a presentation that identified current issues, and possible solutions promoting a “light touch” approach that will minimise disruption to existing businesses.

Key feedback from GFSB

While welcoming the ambition and the relatively low-cost approach, GFSB directors raised several important points:

Enforcement and management

• Many current problems in Casemates stem from weak enforcement of existing rules, especially around tables and chairs and street furniture.
• Without a robust, long-term management and enforcement framework, any new design risks slowly slipping back into disorder.

Funding and fairness

• There is existing concern among businesses in other areas that some Casemates and Chatham tenants already benefit from favourable conditions.
• Heavily subsidising new canopies or furniture here could be seen as preferential treatment unless balanced by wider benefits.
• The GFSB suggested that improvements in wayfinding, branding and signage should, where possible, help raise the profile of other commercial zones too.

Security and events

• Current security measures (such as concrete blocks and planters) are visually intrusive and may not meet modern vehicle mitigation standards.
• Event organisers find Casemates increasingly difficult to use due to access restrictions and the cost and complexity of moving street furniture.

Looking ahead

Feedback from the GFSB and other stakeholders will now be compiled before the brief is refined. Casemates will be the first phase, with the intention of later extending a consistent approach to Chatham Counterguard, Main Street and potentially the wider gateway area around the market, bus terminal and taxi ranks.

For the GFSB, the key messages are:
• Support for improving the look, legibility and usability of Casemates and the wider town centre
• A clear call for strong enforcement, fair funding and long-term management
• A desire to see branding and wayfinding improvements benefit Gibraltar’s broader business community, not just a few locations

Members who wish to share views or concerns on these proposals are encouraged to contact the GFSB so that their feedback can be included in ongoing discussions