The Liverpool BID Company is to host its first roadshow tour this week – to find out from businesses and workers how they want the city centre and commercial district to improve.
The BID team will be touring the Commercial District from Monday to Thursday, August 10-13, as part of a public consultation exercise on the drafting of a new five year business plan for the area from 2016-2021.
As well as gaining feedback, the team will also be spreading the word about a BID funded £1.4m public realm programme in the Commercial District and how businesses can take advantage of £10,000 worth of free opportunities offered by the BID Company – from discounts on advertising and joining the free ThIS Liverpool App, to a broadband upgrade and installing defibrillators for the recently launched CardiAct campaign.
The roadshow follows a series of workshops and a social media campaign (#YourBIDYourSay) to gain ideas on how to improve the Commercial District across themes such as improving connectivity, animating public spaces and supporting business growth. Suggestions to date range from a free bus service from Lime Street Station, a park and ride scheme, an overhaul of signage, a regular food festival and a greening programme.
The daily roadshow first visits St Paul’s Square before moving to Exchange Gardens, Exchange Flags and then to Capital Building on Old Hall Street. The BID Team will then end the week with an Open Day in the BID Office on Lord Street.
As part of the event there will be an interactive map for people to pin their suggestions on and each day will feature lunchtime activities in partnership with Health At Work including a walking tour, free Yoga, Tai Chi and acupressure sessions. Merseyside Police will also be in attendance providing safety and security advice on issues such as marking of mobile phones. At the end of each day a prize draw will be held for a pair of zip wire tickets for those who handed in their business card.
Bill Addy, Chief Executive of Liverpool BID Company, which represents more than 800 businesses in the Commercial District, said:
“We want to hear from as many people and businesses as possible about what they would like to see happen in the Commercial District and how it can be improved to their benefit.
“We’ve been encouraged by the quality for the feedback to date and have no doubt the roadshow will stimulate ideas that will ultimately help us to achieve our aim of making the Commercial District a world class environment in which to do business.”
Businesses in the Commercial District, which covers and area from Old Hall Street to Derby Square and Pall Mall to Water Street, can also fill in an online survey at the BID website.
Once the 5 year business plan is completed, businesses will be balloted on its implementation in March 2016, which if successful will trigger a £3m+ investment in the Commercial District.
Jim Gill, Chairman of the Commercial District BID, said:
“Liverpool city centre is facing some major challenges in the coming decade, not least due to the cuts in the public sector and how the Northern Powerhouse agenda will unfold.
“The business community have seen that the BID Company can help deliver change or, as in the public realm scheme, engineer it with other partners. It’s critical that we create a business plan that reflects both their needs and aspirations to succeed and grow in the Commercial District over these challenging next five years.”
The BID Company Roadshow will run from 10am to 4pm from Monday, August 10 to Thursday, August 13. The Open Day at the BID office (76-78 Lord Street) on Friday, August 14, runs from 12pm-5pm.