A plan to spend millions of pounds improving Bristol city centre over the next five five years has been published. Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District has outlined proposals ahead of a ballot later this year to decide whether to extend its term to 2027.
A BID is an initiative to improve an area of a UK city and is funded by the businesses (known as levy payers) based there. Bristol City Centre BID was voted in by businesses in 2017. There are also BIDs in Broadmead and the Redcliffe and Temple area.
According to the City Centre BID, more than £5.5m has been spent on projects in central Bristol since it was introduced, including a cleaning team; several safety and crime reduction initiatives; and the creation and delivery of events to attract visitors.
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The BID's new five-year vision details how it will attract business, inward investment and people to Bristol - and make it a more welcoming and safe place. The proposals cover four themes - "enhancing, protecting, promoting and supporting".
Vicky Lee, head of Bristol City Centre BID, said: “Our vision is a better Bristol for all, a city where businesses can thrive, people want to live, work and visit, a city that is safe for all to enjoy whatever time of day or night, and a place that is welcoming and appealing to everyone. This is what our business plan promises to deliver and what a second term of Bristol City Centre BID will mean for the city centre and it’s businesses.”
The five-year plan includes:
'Enhancing' the city centre by delivering projects that attract investment and talent, create a greener, cleaner and more attractive city, and bring visitors, employees and residents back into the centre of Bristol, including:
the annual Bristol Light Festival to drive footfall at an otherwise quieter time of the year;
events and activities that attract new audiences and create reasons to spend leisure time in the city;
equipping businesses to reduce environmental impact on their journey to net zero;
funding and delivering Light Up Christmas with festive lighting and events to support retail and hospitality;
continuing seven-day-a-week street cleaning service.
'Protecting' the centre's businesses and visitors by investing to reduce, challenge and raise awareness of crime and anti-social behaviour by:
further development of the business crime reduction partnership to bring together the police, businesses and city council in addressing crime;
improving connectivity to deliver collective and connected responses for businesses;
continuing a dedicated Streetwise Support Officer and TAP for Bristol;
supporting night-time economy by representing their voice to influence citywide strategy;
challenging negative perceptions and raise awareness of continual efforts to increase safety in the city centre.
'Promoting' Bristol through campaigns, events, activations and communications, and celebrating everything that makes the city a special place to work, study and live by:
engaging and attracting consumers to support footfall and sales in levy paying businesses;
highlighting benefits of working in the city to attract and retain staff for levy paying businesses;
Promoting achievements of levy payers to the wider business community and consumers;
Adding value to each business sector by supplementing promotional activity and showcasing Bristol businesses.
'Supporting' by acting as a single point of contact to represent levy payers, leverage investment, influence strategy and support the business community by:
representing levy payers’ voice by targeting and engaging key groups that will best benefit and provide representation at strategic planning meeting;
cost-saving procurement to deliver services and systems at reduced costs;
Sponsorship fund to invest or sponsor opportunities that would make a difference to businesses and the city centre;
Leveraging investment through partnership working and seeking opportunities through grants, sponsorship and central government funding.
Ms Lee added: "We have a fantastic opportunity over the next five years to build on our successes and further support city centre businesses on the road to recovery and beyond, by connecting and representing the business community, delivering projects and partnerships that help improve safety, and by shining a light on our city for tourism, education, and investment."
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