Securing Our Town’s Future Together
Happy New Year!
With the arrival of 2018 comes much change as well as new challenges and opportunities as we greet two very significant proposals that will affect the town’s future.
The first, is that permission has been granted to develop the Covent Garden Car Park which will have a significant impact on local shoppers and staff when development begins. Secondly, after ten successful years of activity BID Leamington will once again be asking businesses to support it’s continuation in the 2018-2023 Renewal Ballot. This happens every five years.
These two things are related because in many ways it is more important than ever that businesses have the focused delivery, representation and support that BID Leamington provides.
Other developments are also on the horizon – in the Old Town plans to develop the ‘Creative Quarter’ have been announced and we will see ourselves defending the town against more out-of-town retail development. As well as this, there are many business challenges to tackle and exciting opportunities to embrace in coming years, such as the Commonwealth Games 2022 (Leamington Spa is hosting the Bowls), Coventry City of Culture 2021 and a new train-line from Kenilworth to Leamington.
Based on extensive engagement in 2017 and market research, a new Business Plan 2018-2023 will be launched at our Business Meeting on the 7th February.
Further ballot related documentation will arrive mid February, before the ballot papers arrive in March. Retail and leisure businesses in the BID area with an RV of £15,000 or more will have 1 month to vote. Please note, papers may be posted to head offices, so please get in touch if you have any questions about this.
Please take a look at our upcoming events and activities. We have lots planned throughout February and March to drive visitors and raise awareness of your business over Valentines Day and Easter. We will also be taking bookings for future events and promotions such as the Food & Drink Festival and summer Little Book of Offers, which go ahead subject to the continuation of the BID.
The BID team care for the town and its business community. We are committed to representing your interests and working in partnership to shape how the town develops. We also have lots of ways for you to benefit directly also so please get in touch to find out how you can get more involved. We very much enjoy dreaming up some ideas together as there is nothing we like more than helping businesses to get the best out of the town.
We wish you an exciting and prosperous year!
Stephanie & Alison