Ripon Business Improvement District yesterday announced The Little Beauty Rooms as the winner of its Christmas window competition.

The salon, which is on Westgate, was decked out with pink and silver baubles, pink reindeer, festive green garlands and Christmas lights.

Owner Lynne Stewart told the Stray Ferret the team had decorated the window at the start of November, meaning people had plenty of time to enjoy it. She added:

“This is the first time we’ve entered.

“So many people have told us how much they love it.”

A total of 34 local businesses entered the competition, which first ran last year, and the public voted for their favourite.

Last year’s winner, The Wakeman’s House Café, came second and Saint Michael’s Hospice took third place.

The salon’s team.

Ms Stewart added:

“We’re just so grateful to everyone who voted for us – thank you!”

The salon, which offers a range of traditional beauty treatments and services, has also won an advert in Review Ripon magazine as part of the competition.

Lilla Bathurst, manager at Ripon BID, added:

“We were thrilled that so many Ripon businesses took part in this hotly fought competition.

“The aim with all Ripon BID’s trails and competitions is to get locals and visitors exploring the city and discovering new businesses.”

One lucky local also won a hamper from the Ripon Hamper Company as part of the competition.

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Town councillors in Knaresborough have rejected a motion to prevent traders having another vote on creating a business improvement district until 2026.

Knaresborough firms voted against setting up a BID by 80 votes to 73 in October 2021.

But the creation of a Facebook group called Get the BID for Knaresborough Back on Track has led to suggestions some businesses could push for another ballot.

If firms vote to set up a BID — as has happened in Harrogate and Ripon — town centre traders pay an annual levy to support schemes that boost footfall.

Cllr Kathryn Davies, a Conservative who represents Aspin and Calcutt, proposed the motion at this week’s full council meeting.

She said BID terms lasted five years and there should be “parity in the time lapse” between ballots when one is rejected.

Cllr Davies said another ballot would ignite “old tensions” and the motion would “bring some calmness to the situation”. She added:

“Businesses in the town will have the certainty of no additional taxes for that period.”

This week’s Knaresborough Town Council meeting.

But Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who was also elected in Aspin and Calcutt, said it could equally be argued the town had lost out on £400,000 of investment the BID levy would have generated and that ultimately it was a decision for traders, not councillors.

Cllr Walker said:

“If the business community wants a BID I’m happy to support them. If they don’t want a BID I’m happy not to support one.”

The Castle Courtyard shopping centre in Knaresborough.

Nobody has formally called for a second ballot and Cllr David Goode, a Liberal Democrat who represents Castle ward, said “it would be madness for any local group to move forward without knowing the majority of local businesses were in favour”.

He added:

“This is not an issue for the town council. This is an issue for the business community.”

The motion failed when John Batt, a Conservative who represents Eastfield, withdrew his support as a seconder to the motion.

Cllr Batt agreed “it’s not our job to dictate to the business community what they should do”.

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Discussions have begun about reviving the idea of creating a business improvement district in Knaresborough.

Traders in Harrogate and Ripon both voted to have BIDs but Knaresborough firms rejected the idea by 80 votes to 73 two years ago.

However, a Facebook group called Get the BID for Knaresborough back on track has been set up.

Supporters say the move would boost trade and improve the town centre. Opponents say a BID is unnecessary and would reopen wounds.

If a BID is created, town centre businesses with rateable values above £2,500 would pay levies that would generate about £140,000 a year for schemes that increase town centre footfall.

Neil Smith, a disabled former taxi driver who set up the Facebook group, said the BID could improve the town’s notoriously difficult parking and lead on issues such as street cleaning and floral displays.

Mr Smith said his experience as a Blue Badge holder had highlighted how acute town centre parking problems were for people with mobility issues and a BID could push for solutions.

He said:

“If people can’t park, businesses will fail because of lack of footfall.

“If I was a business owner in Knaresborough and could have things like better parking, cleaner streets and a more appealing town centre all for a £1 a day I’d be all for it. Who else is going to do these things?”

‘We don’t want this to happen again’

Knaresborough Business Collective, which was formed in 2021 in response to the failed BID vote, runs various town centre initiatives such as supplying hanging baskets and Christmas trees and organising annual awards.

It published a social media post this week saying there was no need for a BID, and questioning whether another ballot so soon was appropriate. It added:

“It is less than two years since a no majority was received, if a yes majority had been achieved we would not be allowed a revote for five years. I believe the same should be the case now.

“The town was massively divided after BID and we really don’t want this to happen again.”

The post urged businesses to contact Knaresborough Town Council with their views on a second BID vote.

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Peter Lacey, an executive member of business group Knaresborough and District Chamber, said:

“Chamber has neither initiated nor can comment on an official basis as to whether it would be in support of rerunning the BID process in the town at this time.

“We are focussed on promoting our great town, addressing concerns about the recent installation of electric vehicle charging points in the town in as constructive way as possible, and preparing to work collaboratively across the town to attract new investment through North Yorkshire Council’s shared prosperity funding.”

Local firms have voted overwhelmingly in favour of continuing to fund Harrogate Business Improvement District for another five years.

About 450 town centre businesses were asked to vote on whether to pay a levy of 1.5% on top of their rateable value to fund the BID for a second term.

The result, announced last night, revealed 76% voted ‘yes’.

It means the organisation — one of more than 350 BIDs in the country set up to increase footfall by providing additional services to those run by councils — will continue until at least the next ballot in 2028.

Since it was founded in 2019, Harrogate BID has funded initiatives such as street cleaning, street art and entertainment and floral displays to make the town centre more welcoming.

Street ranger Chris Ashby is part of the BID team.

Its business plan for the new five-year term, which officially starts in January 2024, focuses on three objectives; pride in our town; a vibrant town and voice and vision.

Dan Siddle, the general manager of the Crown Hotel who chairs Harrogate BID,  said:

“The past five years have been quite something. There is no doubt that since Harrogate BID launched, it has comprehensively delivered.

“I am confident that our new five-year business plan and streamlined objectives will help shape the town further over the years to come to ensure Harrogate thrives long into the future.”

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The now-defunct Harrogate Borough Council used its block vote to support the BID in the last ballot.

This time,, its successor North Yorkshire Council chose not to get involved so the vote was a purely business decision.

Harrogate BID manager Matthew Chapman said:

“The fact that businesses voted to retain the BID, without the backing of North Yorkshire Council makes it even more credible.

“Most BIDs have the backing of their local authority as part of the ballot process, which in our case would have added 12 per cent to the result – if nothing else this provides a true representation from the businesses within the BID area.”

Businesses in Harrogate will begin voting on June 1 on whether to continue to fund services such as street cleaning and Christmas lights.

Currently 462 town centre businesses with a rateable value above £19,000 pay a levy to Harrogate Business Improvement District.

The BID spends the money on additional services to those provided by local authorities to attract footfall into the town centre.

But its first five-year term is ending and it will cease operating if a majority of businesses vote ‘no’ to another five-year term.

BID chief executive Matthew Chapman at last night’s event.

Last night Matthew Chapman, chief executive of the BID, launched the organisation’s term two business plan at the Doubletree by Hilton Harrogate Majestic Hotel.

The plan reveals the BID is forecast to have £510,000 income a year — down on current £554,000 a year — because of a recent re-evaluation of rateable values on town centre businesses.

Mr Chapman said the BID, like many businesses, would have to “do more with less” but he maintained the organisation provided a valuable service through activities such as its street ranger Chris Ashby, street deep cleaning, Christmas lights, match-funded grants, street entertainment, targeted free parking and floral baskets and planters.

Street ranger Chris Ashby

Locally, Ripon, York, Leeds, Skipton, Ilkley, Otley, Bradford and Northallerton have bids although Knaresborough rejected one.

The business plan says:

“Harrogate BID is needed more than ever before and we ask you to please use your ballot paper to vote ‘yes’.”

Council to abstain in vote

However, the BID won’t be able to call on the local authority to support its bid — unlike five years ago.

Harrogate Borough Council previously used its block vote for businesses it ran to vote in favour of the BID.

But North Yorkshire Council, which replaced it this month, has said it will abstain.

Asked last night how he felt about this, Mr Chapman said:

“It’s a little disappointing but it could also be positive because it will be a true business vote.”

Mr Chapman added he wasn’t aware of any other councils that abstained in BID votes.

The ballot will run from June 1 to 28 and the result will be announced on June 29.

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