Chilli Fiesta - Cambray Place stalls
Cheltenham campaign has seen benches replaced, utility boxes repainted and new street signs erected. We also created vinyls to smarten up empty properties. What’s next? We’ll lobby for vital further work to improve pedestrianised areas in both The Strand and Cambray Place. We’re also planning new wayfinding schemes and our floral and smartening up campaigns will be expanded. Parking and accessibility The discounted travel scheme with Stagecoach is exclusive to employees of BID businesses. More than 80 companies now take advantage and more than 1,000 tickets have been sold. The BID has represented a range of business views on the Boots Corner closure and will continue to ensure that local councils understand the challenges facing many businesses. We also worked with Sustrans to provide new, on-going transport information for visitors and locals alike. What’s next? We’ll work on schemes to promote easy access to the town centre and reduce parking costs at key times. Many employees have also highlighted a lack of cycle racks and we’ll work to improve these facilities. The BID has entered its third year with a new chairman leading the organisation, Alex Rose, managing director of Beards Jewellers. We also have new board members from Boots, Regent Arcade, Koj, Lumiere,White Stuff and Elliot Oliver Sales and Lettings. It’s a great team and we aim to continue to make a real difference l
Business support We launched the Cheltenham BID Awards to showcase the fantastic work our businesses do, and our new Business of the Month award gives the winning company the opportunity to speak at the Cheltenham Business Forum Breakfast. We ran a recruitment fair to help businesses fill their vacancies, along with social media seminars. Several businesses also saved thousands of pounds on their utility bills, thanks to the BID’s group purchasing scheme. What’s next? New projects will include supporting an improved CCTV system, which will allow coverage in current blackspots, and a multi-agency team where the BID’s ambassadors will work with others to help tackle anti- social behaviour.
Kevan Blackadder, Cheltenham BID Director. Find out more at: cheltenhambid.co.uk or telephone 01242 571123
Public realm improvements The BID plays an important role in lobbying on this subject on behalf of our 600 businesses. We put pressure on both Cheltenham Borough Council and Gloucestershire County Council to improve the fabric of High Street, which led to long-overdue investment. Our BID In Bloom campaign saw 100 baskets and troughs outside 25 businesses and our Tidy Up
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