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    30

    Oct 2021

    Last Updated: 29/10/2021
    Business
    Business

    'Time to come together' for Knaresborough businesses after BID row

    by Suzannah Rogerson

    | 30 Oct, 2021
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    Knaresborough businesses have said it is time to mend the divide created by a vote against a town BID. Business owners said they were keen to come together for the good of the town.

    kbro-business-owners
    Elaine Grinter, Peter Lacey and Kelly Teggin

    Knaresborough business owners say the town must come together and mend the divide following a row over setting up a town BID.

    The voting down of a BID earlier this month, by 80 to 73, caused acrimony between businesses and led some to walk out of a Chamber of Trade AGM.

    The Stray Ferret asked businesses where the town goes from here. The common message was one of "coming together to have their voices heard".

    Elaine Grinter, who has owned the Art in the Mill gallery with her husband Andy for 14 years, said:

    "As a town we generally all get along and want the best for Knaresborough. Chamber is going through a period of turnover. Hopefully that experience of BID and all the acrimony will be put to one side and we'll see a positive energy coming through.
    "My query going forward is how we will be represented in the future with council changes. I think anything that sees us work together is a good idea."


    The upcoming devolution agreement is at the forefront of business owners minds with some saying without a BID representing them, like in Harrogate and Ripon, they will need to shout louder to make sure the town isn't forgotten.

    Businesses also raved of the "booming" summer of tourism experienced this year and are keen to keep the momentum high with a Christmas market, trees and window displays.

    Kelly Teggin, owner of Kelly Teggin Hair and Beauty, was on the BID taskforce before it had to be disbanded and is hoping some of the projects BID had planned for can still go ahead. She said:

    "I think it's going to take a few months to settle down but we do need to draw a line under this divide or the town will suffer. The BID was going to bring some amazing things to the town because it was a big pot of money.
    "I would still like to see some of the things we'd planned, this is time to come together for the town."


    A number of other businesses agreed the town needed time to heal but were confident the community would come back together for the good of the town.

    Chamber attempts to build bridges


    Peter Lacey, membership secretary of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, agreed the town must move on and has said the chamber is taking forward suggestions from this month's AGM.

    Networking events, joining up with other community groups and improving links between the town centre and Waterside are all to be looked at.

    Today, the Chamber sent a letter apologising for previous comments made by former Chamber president Steve Teggin who hit out at "anti-BID activists" in an open letter. The current Chamber board said it had not signed off on the letter and "apologised for the hurt".

    Mr Lacey said:

    "I hope when we come together in January we can talk positively and constructively about Knaresborough's future."





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    John Ashton has just opened his business on the high street, Jovial Antiques. He said he was aware from other businesses there was a divide:

    "I have heard some talk about people feeling upset at the outcome of the BID. I'm new to the area but I can tell there is a great community feel, businesses on the high street were straight into the shop to welcome me.
    "I voted for a BID but of course we didn't get it. The one thing we need is parking but visitors aren't going to stop coming it'll always be a busy town."