Welcome to the Autumn Newsletter
As you know the BID succeeded in a September ballot (more than 2:1 in favour) in its efforts to continue working on behalf of the businesses of Bedminster to ensure the vitality of the main retail and leisure streets. Thank you for your support if you voted yes and we hope to convince you of the merits of the BID if you voted otherwise.
What’s been happening?
Not a lot to be frank as for six months the BID had no revenues at all whilst we prepared for the autumn ballot. This has meant much of the work around marketing, events and street enhancement was put on hold or did not happen at all sadly.
What’s happening next?
Christmas is coming and everyone knows what a key period this is for almost all businesses. Now that we have had funding confirmed we are in a rush to make the best of it and have some great plans forming:
East St - New festive lighting will be installed along East St created by local carpenters and designers from Hot Soup House. Nestled in the buildings rooftops these will decorate the street with playful lighting as the nights draw in.
Beaming Bedminster – Our larger than life Christmas decorations will be popping back up in shop windows along North, Canon and West St. All 52 handmade units are up for grabs and going fast - if you are interested in having one again this year, or for the first time, please email Jocelyn to discuss being part of the project.
Elf Village – North St Green will see our much beloved Elf Village installation coming to town for its final year, so make the most of it and take the whole family.
Tree Lighting – Its time to invest in new festive street lighting for our large North and West St trees in the run up to their big Christmas switch on.
North Street Nights – Building on last year’s trial we hope to see another successful turnout for these Thursday late night Christmas shopping opportunities. This year NSNs will be running over 3 Thursdays in Dec, 6th/13th/20th, is would be great to see as many businesses as possible opening up their doors and being part of, what we hope to be, an annual tradition.
Jocelyn will in contact regarding the above projects with many of you, however if you just can’t wait to talk Christmas please get in touch with her via northst@bedminster.org.uk
East Street Christmas Fayre – Taking place Saturday 1st Dec, 10AM – 5PM, East St will come alive with festivities, seeing local traders line the street and bring some Christmas magic to start off the month. Trading spaces are still available, interested parties should contact Olivia directly via olivia@bubbleplaycafe.com
Other Plans
Its exciting kicking off another five years of trying to work out what’s best for the area. We have a plan – the business plan and BID Proposal that was used for voting purposes. But we are very open to fresh ideas and in addition to our regular meetings (see below) we have arranged a ‘Town Meeting’ jointly with Action Greater Bedminster as part of their community conversations series:
BEDMINSTER'S SHOPS IN 2030: WILL THEY STILL BE HERE?
22nd November 2018 6.30pm (for 7pm sharp) until 9pm
Hen & Chicken, North Street, BS3 1JF
Or will it just be Amazon and faceless corporations? We need you! Bedminster's residents are invited to help us shape the next five years for supporting Bedminster's businesses. What do you want from your high streets? Does it matter? Do you care?
We do. If you do too, join us for a couple of hours to hear and offer opinions about how businesses, residents, community groups and public authorities can work together to ensure the future of Bedminster's retail and leisure streets at the heart of this great community.
Clearly this is an opportunity for the BID and all businesses to engage with their local customer base and we hope come up with some great new ideas around what will help us continue improving the offer for residents and visitors alike.
No need to book – just come along.
In other news
East Street Bus Diversions – you may have completed a short bus survey for us recently. The overwhelming response was not surprisingly that buses should not be diverted from East Street in favour of Malago Way (ingoing) although there was a significant portion open to the idea of testing the concept at a later date provided the street footfall and sales performance had significantly improved on the back of new residents from all of the new development and the street is significantly upgraded and fit for 21st century shopping.
Cleaner Streets – this is a growing concern for many businesses and not an easy one to deal with. We continue to hold regular meetings with Action Greater Bedminster, the council and Bristol Waste Company and are investigating additional spending by the BID to raise the bar to a higher standard. We understand that Bedminster is cleansed to a ‘B’ standard currently and are keen to understand the implications and cost of improving this to an ‘A’ standard.
Lantern Parade (8th Dec) – do you have palns to do something a little special outside your shop to show support for this great community event? Ideas are welcome and all invited to be involved.
Friendly Streets - Community volunteers have been warmly welcomed by local businesses who are working together to make our area one of the friendliest and most accessible in the city.
The Community Project, including groups like BS3 Community, Bedminster Social Club and the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance, is offering information and assistance around responding appropriately to customers that might have dementia.
Proactive businesses will be added to the city-wide list of ‘Dementia Friendly’ organisations and feature in local publicity around making Bedminster Bristol’s first ‘All Age-Friendly Neighbourhood’.
The project also explores how Bedminster increase support for people with physical disabilities or mobility issues. Take a quick look at the pavement outside your premises. Is it clear of obstructions and trip hazards? If you want some help in making your premises or your bit of the street more accessible to a wider range of customers, please contact Ben on benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk.
Ongoing projects – our main business info page at www.bedminster.org.uk/business lists a series of projects we commenced prior to the BID ballot and we are continuing with these. They include greening projects (planters etc), utilities and waste saving schemes, shop front programme, street art and marketing and promotion (in particular social media and press relations).
GET INVOLVED!
If you are interested in becoming more closely involved with the BID, we are an informal, friendly group, whose basic duties are to direct spending for the BID and Town Team. The BID Board meets 6pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Please do get in touch if you'd like to get involved. Alternatively a marketing (and arts, culture) group meets on the last Monday of every month also at 6pm and a Built Environment Group on the first Tuesday monthly at 4pm (please see our calendar here). Alternatively if you prefer drop us a line or telephone us for a chat to discuss any ideas you have that you think the BID should be pursuing.
About the Business Improvement District
Bedminster BID funding is generated via a small levy on all eligible businesses in the area and paid into a central 'kitty' in November each year, to be spent on projects that benefitBedminster businesses.
Our stated priorities are to:
Create vibrant streets that excite and delight
Market and promote Bedminster
Reduce crime and improve the shopping environment
Advocate and lobby for Bedminster business interests
Drive down costs
Further Information
Business to business news: www.bedminster.org.uk/business
Customer facing website and social media:
https://www.bedminster.org.uk/
www.facebook.com/bedminsterbristol.bs3
www.twitter.com/BedminsterTT
Contacts
George Grace - business@bedminster.org.uk
Jocelyn Wellby - northst@bedminster.org.uk
Simon Dicken (Wilko) - man242@wilko.co.uk
Stef Brammar (AGB) - stef.brammar@way-out-west.org
Ben Barker - benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk
We are most grateful to local accountants Tyrrell Procter and communications experts Plaster for their generous pro bono contributions to our activities.