Since businesses voted to establish Shropshire’s first Business Improvement District 12 months ago, Shrewsbury BID has cemented itself as the new brand builder for the town centre and the organisation to make change happen for traders.
At the start of what promises to be another big year for Shrewsbury BID, BID Manager Kirsten Henly has announced a new long term plan for Sunday car parking which will see charges fixed to £1 on Sundays. The new consistent £1 tariff will apply to all Shropshire Council and privately owned car parks in Shrewsbury on Sundays, allowing people to park for £1 all day in long stay car parks and £1 for a maximum stay short stay car parks.
Shrewsbury BID’s pledge to improve car parking and access in Shrewsbury town centre has been further bolstered by the appointment of wayfinding experts City ID who will be working with Shrewsbury BID, with the support of Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council, to make Shrewsbury more welcoming and easier to use.
Highlights of Shrewsbury BID’s first year in operation include the delivery of a new brand for the town centre, which is being used to successfully promote Shrewsbury as an original and one-off place to live, work and visit. The campaign has included the launch of www.originalshrewsbury.co.uk, two seasonal video productions which generated more than 49,000 hits on the Original Shrewsbury You Tube channel, support for the Christmas lights switch-on event, as well as profile raising feats such as flower bombing and a love lock stunt which became a social media sensation.
Kirsten Henly, BID Manager, said: “The value of a joined up approach to managing our town centre has been embraced by our members over the past year. We have made real progress in delivering more than £175,000 worth of PR, marketing and events. We have big plans for next year and are excited to start the summer off with a long term plan for improved car parking, wayfinding and also cost saving initiatives for businesses.”
“We will be launching a new scheme which will harness the collective purchasing power of our businesses and give them the best deals on utilities, telecoms, waste, recycling and telecoms. In addition, our new footfall counters will give those on the high street intelligence on visitor numbers and patterns of behaviour.”
Mike Matthews, Chairman of Shrewsbury BID and owner of the Prince Rupert Hotel, said: “This is the first time there has been one organisation with a dedicated, business-minded team and resource to collectively support and promoting the town for organisations and businesses operating in Shrewsbury. We have already proved that by showcasing everything the town has to offer, from our independent and artisan businesses, to Shrewsbury’s architecture to events and activities, we can promote Shrewsbury in a way that we can all identify with and ensure that we are appealing to a range of audiences, whether you live, visit or plan on investing in the town.”