Welcome to the Christmas Newsletter.

Updates below on all BID matters however why not come along in person on Tuesday at the Steam Crane where we are hosting an informal Christmas Drinks event for BID business owners and managers from 6.15pm to discuss all things BID for the forthcoming year.

Christmas Activities

As reported last month the BID has committed a greater proportion of funds towards Christmas this year - nearly 1/3 of all BID income will be focused on these festivities, with the aim to link the local BS3 businesses, residents and wider consumers, while increasing revenue in the run up to Christmas.

These include:

Up to 100 Christmas themed events
A gift guide with a 20,000 print run (this is out already)

The Shop Local campaign celebrates local traders - see the bill board posters which are up and receiving very positive reviews

The Elves will be back to hand write hundreds of Santa letters in response to letters received in our own post boxes
Christmas Lights are up in East Street, North Street and West Street!

There are still many ways for traders to get take part - click here or contact Jocelyn via 07811178400 or northst@bedminster.org.uk

Finally in addition to the Christmas marketing initiatives the BID was delighted to commission and promote online a video of the people and places of Bedminster. This has been promoted over the past two months with nearly 60,000 have seen this via Facebook alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z8X9MhJveI.

Built Environment - transport, planning etc

Illegal Graffiti Cleansing – We continue to work with OneFifty an exterior cleaning company based in Bedminster. Things are not perfect on our streets but are we believe much better for the efforts of OneFifty and other initiatives we are trialling. One such initative is to paint shutters bold, vibrant colours and provide shopkeepers with a spray can of the same colour in order they can quickly and easily paint over any illegal tagging. If you would like this done on your shutter free of charge please do get in touch – northst@bedminster.org.uk

New Sign-Sculptures
The BID is helping Trika Yoga, Toyville and Zero Green install new shop signs with an arts/sculptural element to them. This is part of an ongoing project we started 3-4 years ago building on the aim to develop the area as a stimulating arts and creative place and easier and more interesting on the eye as you walk around. Existing signs include Souk, Ivory Flowers and Rhubarb Jumble.

St Catherines Place Redevelopment
This went to planning this week and whilst not approved it was not rejected. It has been deferred until a transport study is complete however we are hopeful that once complete the new development including a new cinema will be given the go ahead and finally the blight that this development has been on this end of East Street will end. Meanwhile Factory 1 next door to Asda is coming to market with some high end apartments that will soon increase the level of local walkabale shopping demand and we hope be the start of a new more promising future for East Street. Their arrival has already seen a vast improvement in the collonade (covered pavement) at this end of East Street

East St Vision – the outline vision was completed in the summer and the consultation and feedback has been most positive. We are now working hard on an informal partnership with local developers and the council to organise detailed plans and raise funding to turn it into a reality. This is an ambitious plan and in the past highly unlikely to move forward. However with the increased interest from the council in the area as a result of developments around 'Bedminster Green' and national pots of money becoming available (such as Future High Street Fund) we are of the view that slowly but surely there is the real possibility of significant improvement.

Shop Access Ramps
The BID through Alice owner of Trylla on North Street has been working closely with Ben Barker at AgeFriendly Bedminster to explore ways to improve accessibility. They have found some very low cost ramps - c£50 - to help with access to shops for the elderly and others and are looking at ways to make it even cheaper by 'bulk buying'. In addition the BID have offered to pay for half of the cost of early commitments as part of the BID's commitment to supporting Age Friendly Bedminster. Please contact Ben or Alice if you are interested - tryllashop@gmail.com, benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk. Alice will be dropping in on businesses in the New Year.

Pocket Park on East Street
The designs are complete and subject to council highways approvals we will install a range of benches, planters and ‘green walls’ in the spring on the corner of Church Road opposite East Street Fruit and Veg.

CRIME
The BID continues to support initiatives to reduce crime and anti social behaviour. This has been a growing concern for businesses on East St this past year in particular. A data sharing app has been purchased by the BID for sharing info directly with the police – if you are not on the DISC system yet please get in touch with Olivia at Bubble Cafe – email is best in order she can give you access - olivia@bubbleplaycafe.com.

GET INVOLVED IN THE BID

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 benefit Bedminster 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-what-is-bid
Customer facing website and social media:

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

We are grateful to local accountants Tyrrell Procter and communications experts Plaster for their generous pro bono contributions to our activities.