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In his introduction at the review meeting, Richard Compton, chair of the BID board, said:
The introduction of a banking hub was among plans unveiled by Ripon Business Improvement District at its annual review meeting this week.
Sine the BID launched in autumn 2021, banking facilities in the city have reduced with the closure of the Barclays and Halifax branches, leaving HSBC as the only high street bank with a presence in Ripon.
A banking hub would provide a counter service where customers of major banks and building societies can carry out cash transactions. One is set to open in Knaresborough after it lost its last high street bank.
BID manager Lilla Bathurst told Monday’s meeting at the Old Deanery:
“We are seeking to bring a banking hub to Ripon to enable businesses to access and deposit cash more readily than they can at the moment.”
The HSBC Bank on Westgate.
The BID, funded through a £170,000 annual levy raised from businesses in Ripon and the surrounding area, is also looking to support the fight against crime.
Ms Bathurst said:
“We plan to invest in a Radiolink scheme for businesses to reduce shop theft and antisocial behaviour, by having a means of sharing information with each other about suspicious characters or perceived threats that they see.
“We will also ensure that all night-time economy businesses are offered this.”
The review meeting marked the BID’s second year of operation.
Ms Bathurst said the highlights included a reinvigorated events calendar featuring live music, street parties run as part of the Totally Locally campaign instigated by independent traders in Kirkgate and support for the Ripon Theatre Festival in June, which saw an 86 percent increase in audience numbers.
The BID supported the festival in its inaugural year of 2022 and this year and will again be a sponsor in 2024.
Other BID activities in the year included the installation of new boundary signs and the creation of walking maps that encourage visitor flow around the city and work in conjunction with refurbished noticeboards that contain mapping, tourist and regularly updated events information.
“Our vision is to develop the unique Ripon city region as a great destination for tourism, culture, creativity, innovation and business.
“We are helping to drive footfall into our retailers, restaurants, bars, museums and attractions – both in the city centre and the outer areas – through our online presence, events and marketing.”
He added:
“Everything we do is focused on growing the profits of our members.”
The picture shows Ripon BID chair Richard Compton (left) at the annual review meeting with BID communications executive Layla Martin, BID manager Lilla Bathurst and Alex Stainsby, operations manager of the Old Deanery
Traditional wooden signs that welcome visitors to Ripon and invite them to ‘stay awhile amid its ancient charms’ are in need of replacement.
At last week’s full city council meeting, former Mayor Councillor Eamon Parkin, said:
“The signs have been dropping to bits and I first asked for them to be replaced six years ago, but they remain in place and in a poor condition.”
Parts of the sign on North Bridge have fallen victim to the elements and vandalism
Last month, as part of Ripon BID’s commitment to improve wayfinding it announced it had partnered with North Yorkshire highways to put new metal boundary marker signs in place on Ripon bypass, Boroughbridge Road, Kirkby Road and Studley Road.
One of the metal boundary signs that is now in place
The project was supported by city and North Yorkshire councillors Barbara Brodigan and Andrew Williams through donations from their locality budgets.
The welcome sign on Rotary Way
However, at the city council meeting, Cllr Williams said:
“These were never intended to replace the wooden welcome to Ripon signs, which are part of the city’s heritage.”
Councillors agreed for costings to be sought for wooden replacement signs and, once obtained, for these to be considered at a future meeting.
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