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Proposal for Stockton BID to be discussed

A meeting to discuss the proposals for a Business Improvement District (BID) in Stockton will be held at the ARC Centre next week.

Stockton’s businesses are invited to attend the meeting on Monday 9 November to hear more about plans for a BID in Stockton’s town centre and the positive impact the initiative is currently having in Nottingham and Skipton.

The main purpose of a BID for Stockton is to stimulate business and encourage more people to visit and use Stockton’s shops and services.

Jemma Radestock, manager of the town’s Marks and Spencer store is chair of the group leading the proposal to develop a BID for Stockton.

The group’s membership has grown in recent months and now includes a broad range of business interests as well as Stockton Borough Council. This includes Helen Simmons of Hewitt’s Solicitors, she said: “Stockton must look at what other towns and cities are doing to bring people back to their high streets. BIDs are now established in over 200 towns and cities across the UK.

“Other places have clearly woken up to the need to do something to compete with out of town retail parks, large supermarkets and the internet. This is vital to the future of Stockton as a shopping and service centre. We have already reached the point where doing nothing is no longer an option!”

Chris Kolek, Stockton BID Co-ordinator said, “We are holding an event on Monday evening because several of the businesses in town asked to see how BIDs actually work in other towns and to understand the reasons why they are proving to be successful.

“We have invited representatives from two experienced BIDs to tell us about their activities and to provide Stockton with any lessons to be aware of. The speakers from Nottingham and Skipton will be available for questions on the night as well as the Stockton team who will be summarising the findings of the consultations and setting out the proposal for a BID in Stockton.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .