Good Afternoon All
Please find below an update on:
Dalby/Malago Road closures
Covid Grants - Still Available but Closing Soon!
BID Annual Business Planning
Dalby and Malago Road Closures
We have written to the Mayor and wider council asking for an urgent response and urgent action given multiple negative unintended consequences of council decisions:
Dalby/Malago closure
Dean Lane / Coronation Road restrictions
30-minute free car parking ending
Gaol Ferry Bridge closure
CAZ
Hereford Street carpark closed
76 Bus South Bristol reduced service (and impact on shopper access)
The BID has brainstormed solutions with businesses and recommend all of the following are explored as a matter of urgency:
Reopen East Street to all traffic all day including painting in car parking bays onto one side of the street
Reopen half of East St to all traffic - ie requiring them to right turn directly into Little Paradise car park (which I see is only 1/3 full)
Traffic lights on Dalby/Malago to enable it to reopen 2-way
Reopen half of Dalby/Malago both ways (ie the southern half) to enable 2-way in part at least temporarily
Additional temporary bus stop on East Street (near Mill Lane)
Very large signs on Malago/Dalby indicating East Street is very much open for business; 'car parks open'; including possibly some street art to divert traffic into Paradise St carpark
Reopen Hereford Street carpark (which is currently closed inexplicably)
Delay loss of 30-minute free car parking during the roadworks
Reintroduce free car parking for the duration of the works
Open Church Lane / Coronation Road to cars to enable flow
Delay proposed closure of Gaol Ferry Bridge
Delay/amend CAZ in order traffic flow to Bedminster is not impacted
Greatly improve alternative transport solutions (ie non car)
Improve communications that East St is very much open for business
Acknowledge that the No76 current S Bristol diversion is also having a negative impact
The businesses need a substantial and urgent response.
Covid Grants - Still Available but Closing Soon!
Apply now for a business support grant
The government has introduced two grant schemes intended to support businesses experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19 and in particular the rise of the Omicron variant. The following details have been received from the council:
Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant
The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) is available to businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.
Grants will be a one-off payment, dependent on the rateable value of your business on 30 December 2021, subject to being within the relevant subsidy (formerly known as State Aid) threshold for the business.
Applications close at 12 noon on 14 February 2022.
Visit our website for information on the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant and to apply.
Additional Restrictions Grant
The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is available to self-employed and sole traders as well as small or micro businesses based in the Bristol City Council area, trading on 4 January 2022 with ongoing fixed business-related costs.
To apply, businesses must have identification and documentation as evidence of trading and able to demonstrate you have suffered a significant fall in income (including online activity) due to the restrictions or the rise in the Omicron variant.
All businesses must apply for support under this scheme. Previous recipients of ARG must re-apply.
We aim to support as many businesses as possible. However, funding is limited, there is no guarantee you will receive a payment even if you are eligible.
Applications close at 12 noon on 14 February 2022.
Visit our website for information on the Additional Restrictions Grant and to apply.
BID Annual Business Planning
Area meetings were held on North, East and West Street to generate fresh ideas for the BID to pursue in the forthcoming year. The long list of ideas is below - the BID board meets tomorrow evening 615pm at the Steam Crane (all businesses welcome if you are free) to prioritise and make some decisions.
Street Meeting Feedback:
East Street
Challenges/Context
· road closure
· continued fear or perception of fear of East St
· v negative Facebook etc coverage
· 'why would i come here?' - need to give people more reasons
Built Environment
· Dalby/Malago Road Closure
o Business v tough at the moment - is this the road closure? What else can be done? -
o free up:
§ RPZ bays?
§ open up car park opp Screwfix
§ BCC car park adj Windmill Hill is currently closed
§ PR and social media stronger response
§ Argos car park?
· East St Vision Pilot - a preference for this to be midway on East St not at the end as there are more active retailers and less development spoiling the scene
· Argos building - corrugated hoardings need a mural
· Phone Box opp East St Fruit - get rid!
· Decoration - shutters and selected buildings (esp Stan Butt as 'iconic' (note landlord here is same as Andy C)) - also more graffitti response
· Bunting in form of hot air balloons (similar to umbrellas) hanging off catenaries that double as christmas lights infrastructure
· Welcome arcs across East St at entrances
· More flower beds/planters generally
· Replace all bins and street furniture
· Public loos - pay a business to volunteer their business (this covers extra cleaning cost - c£600pa)
Marketing and Promotion
· Never mind the Bollards. Preference for this to be more managed/professional as concerns that a competition will lead to mess/abuse. Maybe make an East St Arts Trail>?
· Interactive Light Art - as the street is so dark
· International Food Fest to reflect the different businesses
· EAT Fest was supported
· Vintage/Flea Market - on a Sunday connecting with Tobacco Factory - so a trail between North St and East St benefitting nearly all businesses would be created
· CCTV - Andy C can do this for £300 elec costs (he has the cameras and the 4 buildings covering the whole street). Also posters 'you are being watched'
· Stronger media response to the negativity - engage Darren's soc media person
· Trails - Halloween was good. Do one in Easter
Lower North St
Challenges
- Low footfall as we’re a vehicle thoroughfare but not a pedestrian one. This is likely to get worse with the closing of Gaol Ferry Bridge
- Street is not an attractive place to walk - lots of traffic, narrow pavements, some closed shopfronts, a fair amount of rubbish etc
- General business challenges of increased costs
1. Built Environment - permanent: we are aware of the study that has been commissioned into this and support this. Some aspects that may not be covered in the study that we think should be looked at are
- Barriers currently outside some hospitality venues. Without getting into the debate on their merit as each Trader will have a different view, they look ugly. There needs to be a decision on if they’re staying: if they are they need to look better as currently they are an eyesore; if they’re not we need to be informed of this so we’re all aware of the situation
- Bins - some traders don’t have space in their properties for bins and so they are permanently located on North Street or on side-streets. Could there the installation of sheltered bin stores? Could there be a collective approach to bin collection - i.e. a deal is negotiated with a waste removal company for the whole of our stretch that a) reduces each individual trader’s cost; b) means all bins are collected on one day of the week, meaning the street is ‘bin clean’ for 5.5/6 days out of 7?
2. Built Environment – temporary:
Alternative approach to Christmas lights is needed – our end of the street doesn’t have space for trees.
As part of this, could the Pocket Park be used for a Christmas Tree and focus?
Winter + Summer Hanging Baskets – we’d like these back and we’d like budget for maintenance of these
3. Events – we’d like to see more events take place as these bring people from outside BS3 into the area. Three ideas we had:
- An initiative to drive attendees from Upfest at Greville Smyth Park to our end of the street. We are concerned that attendees will not be routed via our end of the street as will enter either via the Hotwells side, or disperse down Raleigh Road.
- A Belly Laughs style event in Hospitality Venues but with music as the focus – could Friendly Records bring music into our venues for a weekend-long event?
- An event centered around the community and climate change - including inspiring traders and the community to make small changes for the greater good
Further, we’d like to understand the true cost of an event that involves a street closure. We believe this would be a beneficial type of event however it’s hard to judge the Return of Investment of this without knowing the true cost
4. Marketing + Promotion: General – there’s a general consensus (of those who attended the meeting) that improvements to built environment, followed by one-off events are more beneficial than the marketing and promotions campaigns that have been run in recent times. We would like more advance notice of the promotional calendar – could one be created for the year (and Q1 2023) now, so we are all aware of what campaigns will be running and how we can be involved?
5. Marketing + Promotion, Campaign Idea – similar to the event idea above, could there be a campaign around the idea of what small changes we are all making to do our bit to negate climate change. This is a theme that all businesses can be relevant to and we could all pledge to make small steps to ‘do our bit’. Could BS3 become the postcode that is leading the way in small changes?
6. Increased Costs - in addition to the idea of a collective deal for waste removal, is there an opportunity to negotiate cost savings with energy providers for a group of opting-in businesses on the street? Our collective spending power is reasonable and together we could negotiate a collective cost saving
Upper North Street
Built Environment
1. Zebra Crossing: Traders on southside of the street felt crossing the road for some people was difficult due to traffic, -could an existing build out or possibly a new one outside parsons be enhanced with a zebra crossing, all traders thought this could help slow traffic as well as giving safe passage between north and south side of the street.
2. Bins: There is a historical issue with bins on pavements, mainly from flats above sis there a bin solution (bin store etc). To be honest nobody was sure of the solution.
3. Street Bins: Could these be made to look nicer or even new bins to include recycling and cigarettes butt disposal.
4. Dog mess: Seems to have been a rising in dog pooh along the street, still not sure of solution, maybe a dog pooh bin?
5. Hanging Baskets: Always welcomed and improves street throughout the summer
6. Sculptures: More creative sculpture signs for shops
7. Lighting: Year round creative lighting was discussed in some depth, various ideas but we all liked the idea of floor projections which could change with the seasons. Could be mounted at shop sign level and powered by businesses that sign up.
Marketing
8. Flags: Came up again, but not sure really a priority given other suggests.
9. Lion Stores: Support an event to celebrate 50 years of Lion stores (June)
10. Road closures: Employee an event company to close North Street on a sunday every other month, space to be given back to community to use, 'Playing Out - for adults.
11. Permanent Xmas tree on North Street Green or nearby was well received but placement could be challenging.
West Street
- can the BID bring pressure to bear on getting more street cleaning? (would we have to pay?) Litter is a major problem particularly on West and East Streets
- tagging: another major problem on West Street: I took photos of 12 sites today: a postbox, utility boxes, several walls, and bus stop. I report these to the City Council but nothing happens : can the BID put some pressure on?
- hanging baskets and Christmas lights again please