Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Claims city centre trade in ‘desperate’ state rejected
A concerned councillor claims trade for independent firms in the city is in a “desperate” state.
David Hirst issued a plea on social media to the city’s Business Improvement District (BID) group to respond to what he perceived were worrying signs companies were struggling in the area – which BID disputes.
The Ukip councillor, who represents Greenhill ward in Herne Bay, says Canterbury centre has appeared deserted this week, and more needs to be done to ensure smaller firms thrive in a challenging market.
He said: “The BID needs some fresh initiatives to boost Canterbury. They have put rates up, but things have not improved. They have taken on the responsibility of representing traders, so they need to find new initiatives.
“I don’t think city ambassadors are what is needed.
“I think everyone is suffering on the high street – for example, there are around 74 eateries in the area and it is difficult for them to sustain their businesses.
“Independent traders are being affected by companies trading on the internet.
“I spoke to one newsagent in the city centre who said that he had only taken £10 in one day, so the decline in trade has been significant.”
In his opinion, one of the keys to improving trade in the city for smaller firms was in the greater provision of cheaper parking and better public transport for shoppers.
He cited Brighton as an example of a city which had succeeded in creating a successful environment for its smaller enterprises.
Responding to his concerns, Bob Jones, chief executive of the BID group, believed the group had been effective in devising a strategy to assist small businesses within the city.
He believed its annual budget of £550,000 was being spent on a number of core measures making a difference to businesses.
This included developing a destination management plan (DMP) to offer a longer-term view of how the city’s trading environment could be enhanced to provide jobs and greater prosperity.
Mr Jones said: “Each month we have taken a sample of 25 businesses since last October, and the results have been broadly positive.
“There will of course be those businesses that are doing better than others – not everyone is having a great time.
Performed well
“But broadly, the city has performed well.
“We have done a number of things since we started including providing Christmas lights, we are also out there cleaning the streets every week, and we have added floral displays that are fitting for the garden of England’s city.
“We’ve also introduced city ambassadors who have so far welcomed thousands of people, and a total of 64% of businesses voted in favour of having a BID.
“There are some issues that have been out of our hands in terms of visitor numbers from France, which have been affected by events there including port closures.
“Then there is the value of the pound against the Euro, which are things that are outside of our control.”
He added that if any individual businesses were finding conditions difficult, he said the BID team would welcome their approach for any assistance it may be able to provide.
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