The signs are there...

LOOKING back at where Stockport was five years ago, it’s really encouraging to see things have moved on, but with the Stockport BID taking shape it’s even more exciting to know there is more change to come.

I visited Altrincham recently, another local area that secured a Business Improvement District (BID), and an area I feel has similarities to Stockport.

A key to Altrincham’s success so far has been the collaborative work of local groups and the local authority, something that Stockport is good at, if not more so, but I do feel that the BID has yet to make the noise and raise the anticipation that Altrincham’s has already.

The last time I visited Altrincham was at Christmas and, within that short space of time, I noticed significant changes in the public realm, the numbers of cafes and restaurants and the growth stemming from the marketplace across the town centre.

The Stockport BID team need to be thinking equally big and planning long-term improvements to Stockport that keep bringing people back.

Foodie Friday has been phenomenal, but we now need to encourage some of the unique brands that feature there to commit to a permanent retail offer in the town.

Rosie’s on Prince’s Street is a great example of a unique brand working well. This independent café seems to have identified a style, price point and quality of offer that is working – it’s certainly a hit with my colleagues and our customers at Orbit.

They have doubtless timed it just right with Redrock about to open nearby.

As Stockport’s BID – called Totally Stockport launches this month, I wish it well and look forward to seeing an exciting and stretching programme of initiatives that we can all get behind and be proud of.