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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 17/06/2020

Knaresborough

Knaresborough swings into action with new plan

by Suzannah Rogerson

| 17 Jun, 2020

Knaresborough chamber of trade has set up an action plan to reopen its town centre. Knaresborough Unlocked will provide schemes to help local businesses including an online selling platform.

Over recent years the number of empty shop fronts have decreased in the town, improving its aesthetic and encouraging for visitors to the town.

Knaresborough Unlocked is the action plan, set up by Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, to help the town reopen following lockdown.

After months of planning by chamber members, the Knaresborough Unlocked initiative was formed. Its main aim is to support local businesses as they make preparations to reopen.

The plan has a number of action points including engaging with voluntary organisations such as Knaresborough delivers to arrange a coordinated response from several of the town's businesses.

The scheme has also allowed the chamber to keep businesses informed on funding opportunities, including discretionary grants, to ensure they receive all the necessary support. The main message that has been promoted throughout planning has been 'shop local stay safe'.

A further focus of the action plan was to offer expert health and safety advice for smaller businesses who may not have formal training. The chamber partnered with local health and safety experts Cenheard to create a coronavirus safe pack which offers free health and safety training, guidance and posters for all local business owners.

These measures have been rolled out throughout the town to encourage its visitors and workers to social distance. Bill Taylor added:

"There's still work to do and people's behaviour towards the 2 metre distance is changing. There are so many questions about the distance and even though it might change its so important to keep it in the front of people's mind. We've encouraged our shop owners to take part in the formal health and safety training to make sure the return is as safe as it can be."

Shop owners are optimistic in Knaresborough as non-essential shops reopen.

Community vows to fight back as new leisure plans could include a new leisure centre in Knaresborough.

To promote their 'shop local' message further, the chamber has offered their support to a 'Shopappy' initiative set up by York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which will be live in the coming weeks. This scheme gives the town a portal in which local businesses can sell their products or services online.

Bill Taylor, Secretary and Treasurer of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade told The Stray Ferret:

"Shopappy allows customers to buy direct from them or arrange to click and collect from the store. The local enterprise partnership supports towns such as Knaresborough and offers the portal for free for a year. It is great because those businesses without an online platform are given the chance to get orders online."

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Knaresborough swings into action with new plan

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