Traders express desire for change
Businesses unhappy with city centre management
A survey of Stirling traders has found that almost two-thirds are unhappy with the way the city centre is currently managed.
The canvas of opinion was the second stage of a consultation being carried out by Go Forth Stirling, the group spearheading fresh moves to set up a Business Improvement District in Stirling.
Companies within the BID area pay a levy based on rateable value, and the money raised is spent on an agreed programme of initiatives which aim to boost prosperity and increase customers.
The BID levy in Stirling is expected to generate £1.2 million over five years. It’s proposed that the levy – likely to be no more that one and a quarter per cent – will not apply to the 160 traders whose rateable value is below £10,000 a year.
Go Forth Stirling hope to reverse the result of the March, 2015, poll in which businesses voted narrowly against setting up a BID scheme in Stirling.
In an attempt to gauge feeling on a number of key issues, they sent a questionnaire to businesses likely to be affected by the BID proposal.
There are 560 businesses in the BID area. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed, of which 300 were delivered by hand locally and 100 sent electronically to businesses based outside the city. So far there have been 123 replies.
Go Forth Stirling spokesman David Gowen, who has looked at the responses, said overall businesses indicated a desire for change in how the city centre was currently managed. Over 60 per cent of respondents were not happy with the management of the city centre.
The next stage in the process is an open meeting for affected businesses and that will take place in the Golden Lion, King Street, next Tuesday, January 24, at 5.45pm for tea and coffee with business starting at 6pm.
Those present will be given details of the survey and asked for their views and questions.
The meeting is an opportunity for businesses to put forward their views and ideas, and help shape the final Go Forth Stirling business plan which will spell out how it is intended to spend the money raised from the BID levy.
Among ideas being considered by the steering group are free city centre wifi, drawing up a calendar promoting more events in the city centre and having a ‘land train’ which would operate in the summer months between Stirling‘s key attractions.
Providing BID Scotland, Scottish Ministers and Stirling Council approve the document, it will be put to the vote between May 9 and June 20. Ballot papers will be sent out to businesses in the BID area and the results of the poll are expected between June 21 and June 27.
Chairman of Go Forth Stirling Peter Betts, Debenhams store manager, said: “We believe the opportunity for businesses to work together to secure a successful future for Stirling city centre must be grasped, and in our opinion the introduction of a Business Improvement District is the best route to achieve this.
“Whatever business or organisation you represent in Stirling creating a BID will not only help you but it will ensure the future is as good as it can be for the city centre. If we come together under the umbrella of a BID and work collaboratively we will achieve far more than working on our own.”