Retailers have rejected plans for a levy to help pay for improved security, cleaning and environmental improvements within the heart of the city centre.
The levy formed the centrepiece of a proposal to create a Business Improvement District within the area bounded by Eastgate Street, Northgate Street, St Werburgh Street, Watergate Street, Bridge Street, Godstall Lane and Music Hall Passage.
One hundred and twenty seven (36%) of the 300-plus Rows and street level retailers took part in the postal ballot, which closed on 28 December. Of those that voted, 58 (46%) voted in favour, with 69 businesses (54%) voting against.
For the BID ballot to be successful, 51% of the votes had to be in favour of the proposals, with the total ‘yes’ vote representing at least 51% of the combined rateable value of all the votes cast.
Those voting in favour represented just £1.8 million of the rateable value; those voting against represented a combined rateable value of £5.7million.
Organisers City Centre Management and its supporters were left ‘disappointed but encouraged’ by the outcome.
“It’s a disappointing outcome, particularly for those retailers who were hoping to reap the benefits of enhanced security and better cleaning and maintenance within the BID area,” said Sue Haslam, Chairman of the City Centre Management Executive and the Chester BID Steering Group.
“However, the process has created some significant benefits, notably a better dialogue and greatly improved relationships between retailers, the Police, City Council and the City Centre Management team that can only benefit city centre businesses and visitors in the years ahead.”
Referring to the turn-out, Sue added: ”36% is quite encouraging and on a par with other campaigns such as in Leicester last year where the turn-out was 37% and the vote was lost on rateable value.”
Rows retailer Howard Harrison described the outcome as a missed opportunity. “We may never have a better chance to secure funding for extra Police Community Support Officers, to buy state-of-the-art cleaning equipment for the Rows and streets and to plan for general environmental improvements in the area. This is a blow for smaller retailers in Chester.”
Sue Haslam continued: “It’s clear from the voting statistics that the smaller independent retailers felt they had more to gain from the proposals than theirlarger corporate neighbours, some of whom have a national policy of voting against BID initiatives.”
Asked whether City Centre Management would consider a second vote in the future, Sue commented: “It’s too early to make decisions. Liverpool succeeded on the second vote and its something the partners will no doubt consider in the months ahead.”
Sue added that some retailers are already suggesting a reduced BID area with a greater density of independent businesses who are clearly more enthusiastic and have more to gain from a successful campaign.
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For further information please contact Hems de Winter. Tel: 01244 320 677
Retailer in Chester’s proposed Business Improvement District are being given a taste of things to come with the arrival of an extra police presence on their doorsteps.
PC Lisa Tasker and Police Community Support Officer Marta Legaspi will be patrolling the area and offering advice until Christmas. Shift working will mean cover during the day and in the evenings.
Chester City Police Inspector Mel Williams commented: “We’ve launched this initiative to get to know the BID area, the people and the issues so that we can hit the ground running if the BID ballot being held next month is successful.
“We’re keen to forge closer links with the BID area community, providing support and reassurance, offering advice and helping reduce crime and antisocial behaviour.
He added: “I don’t want these to be empty words. I hope that both Lisa and Marta will be recognised and known by name and that with support, they will be able to make a valued contribution to the safety and security of the BID area and its community in the weeks ahead.”
Marta has worked as a fully-fledged police office in her native Spain for more than 13 years. She joined Cheshire Constabulary earlier this year and trained as a PCSO. PC Lisa Tasker has 14 years’ police experience in the Chester area. Both have pledge to be high profile and accessible.
“We’re really looking forward to getting to know all the BID area retailers in the weeks ahead,” said Lisa. “Christmas brings its own safety and security issues and we hope to make a real difference in terms of offering advice, support and a reassuring presence to traders and visitors alike.”
Lisa and Marta can be contacted on 0845 458 6384.
Police Community Support Officers could become a permanent feature in the area if a majority of local retailers vote ‘yes’ next month to creating a Business Improvement District based around the Rows and street level premises in Eastgate Street, Northgate Street, St.Werburgh Street, Watergate Street, Bridge Street, Godstall Lane and Music Hall Passage.
A ‘yes’ vote for the Chester City Centre Management initiative would see businesses paying a small levy linked to their rateable value. The majority of the 400 businesses within the BID area would be asked for a tax-deductible investment of less than £500, with many paying less than £100.
The additional funds will be managed by retailers and used to finance retailers’ own choice of local improvements and initiatives.
The decision by Chester City Police to get to know the BID area through Lisa and Marta has been welcomed by Sue Haslam, Chairman of the City Centre Management Executive and the Chester BID Steering Group.
“This is great news for the retailers and the community as a whole. Improved security has been one of the top priorities for a many of the BID area retailers,” she said.
“The vote will be based on a business plan that allows for the appointment of five dedicated Community Support Officers, together with a range of other proposals to make the area cleaner, safer and brighter.”
Details of the business plan proposals can be found at www.chesterbid.co.uk
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Note to Editors: for further information, contact Hems de Winter. Tel: 01244 320677 or email de.winter@mdew.co.uk
Organisers of the campaign to boost the fortunes of Chester city centre have announced a December ballot to decide the future of plans to create a Business Improvement District.
Rows and road level businesses in Eastgate Street, Northgate Street, St. Werburgh Street, Watergate Street, Bridge Street, Godstall Lane and Music Hall Passage will be asked to vote in favour of a proposal that will see them contributing to a fund to help finance a package of improvements designed to increase footfall and boost business.
BID campaign organisers Chester City Centre Management announced the ballot plans this week following positive feedback from the first phase of consultations with BID area businesses.
Sue Haslam, Chairman of the City Centre Management Executive and the Chester BID Steering Group, explained: “Initial feedback from the businesses we’ve been talking to has been extremely encouraging, particularly from the smaller independent traders within the BID area who are the lifeblood of Chester’s retail sector.
“The response we’ve received to date has led us to the decision to hold the ballot in December.”
Sue continued: “There’s still a long way to go. We’re in the process of talking personally with all the 400 businesses within the BID project area to explain the proposals and benefits and encourage further support.
“These discussions have provided the opportunity to dispel some of the myths around the BID campaign, particularly around the level of contribution that businesses will be asked to pay, and the services that are currently provided by Chester City Council.
“For example, many businesses believe that the Council is responsible for maintaining and cleaning the Rows, which is not the case. This responsibility rests with the owners of the buildings who in many cases pass the liabilty onto their tenants through the lease.”
Sue explained that if the BID ballot is successful, contributions, linked to the businesses’ rateable value, will be pooled and allocated over a five-year period on a range of measures designed to generate a safer, cleaner and more welcoming environment.
The majority of business within the designated BID area would be asked for a tax deductible investment of less than £500, with many paying less than £100.
The final business plan will be published following further consultation with the BID area businesses.
Rows retailer Howard Harrison of The Writing Place Ltd commented: “A successful BID campaign is essential to the future success of Rows trading. It will help create a unique opportunity to improve and reinvigorate the Rows, and achieve a new standard of quality in our retail environment.”
In the coming weeks, BID campaigners from Chester City Centre Management will continue visiting all the BID area businesses, distributing an explanatory leaflet, answering questions and encouraging support for the plans. A website where retailers can find further information and make comments is also being developed (www.chesterbid.co.uk)
If the campaign succeeds, funds will be managed and allocated directly by a formally-constituted BID company made up of local business ratepayers.
Sue Haslam added: “I hope BID area businesses will recognise and engage in the enormous potential of these proposals and grasp the opportunity to take ownership of its aims.
“This is an opportunity for businesses to take control of a process that will enable them to invest directly in their own future prosperity.”
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Note to Editors: for further information, contact Hems de Winter. Tel: 01244 320677 or email de.winter@mdew.co.uk
Retailers calling for improvements to Chester’s historic Rows were given a demonstration of the latest cleaning technology last week.
The event in Bridge Street Row was organised by Chester City Centre Management which is currently campaigning to create a Business Improvement District in the City.
A group of retailers looked on as a team from Queensferry-based Norvex Cleaning Equipment Limited put the new machine through its paces.
“There was a tremendous amount of interest from the retailers who attended,” said Sue Haslam, Chairman of the City Centre Management Executive and the Chester BID Steering Group.
“This is the kind of equipment that we could soon see working in Chester if the BID campaign is successful.”
Sue explained that a small levy from businesses would generate extra funds and enable retailers to agree and finance their own choice of local improvements and initiatives.
“Cleaning of the Rows has long been an issue for retailers and property owners,” Sue continued. “A successful BID campaign would provide us with the best chance of achieving an effective and sustainable solution to this and other challenges that exist within the city centre.”
Rows store manager George Bezzina said: "it was very good to see so many local retailers impressed by what the machine could obviously deliver and its end result."
The BID area will be based around the Rows in Eastgate Street, Northgate Street, St.Werburgh Street, Watergate Street, Bridge Street, Godstall Lane and Music Hall Passage.
The final business plan will be published following further consultation with the BID area businesses. The majority of business within the designated BID area would be asked for a tax-deductible investment of less than £500, with many paying less than £100.