Revised timetable for Ripon BID after Covid lockdown
Covid 19 may have hampered the progress of the the Ripon BID, but it is hoped it will be back on track when businesses have emerged from lockdown.
In an online update for those engaged in the Ripon process, BID chair Richard Compton said that with the global pandemic, businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. He added:
“We must regroup and adjust to the ‘new normal’, when released from lockdown.”
Last year, a feasibility study was carried out and a task group formed, but the coronavirus crisis brought a temporary halt to the BID process in March.
Subsequent activities have been affected and a revised timeline published on the BID website has April next year as the target for a planned start of the Ripon BID.
Before then, a campaign will be conducted to present plans drawn up by the task group and a ballot of businesses carried out. If the majority vote ‘yes’, all businesses within the BID area will be required to pay a levy on their business rates to fund the project, with the cost to each worked out on a pro-rata basis.
Fountains Abbey
The Ripon Business Improvement District will cover a large area and, while the city centre is the principal point of focus, it also embraces heritage, hospitality sporting and visitor attractions within the wider Ripon district.
These include the Fountains Abbey World Heritage site, Newby Hall, Lightwater Valley and Ripon Racecourse.
Government social distancing requirements have put greater emphasis on the use of local shopping, leisure and exercise facilities, as travel to larger centres has reduced. Mr Compton said:
“It is therefore important that we are in a position to engage and retain this market. Our competition, whether it be for retail or tourism, will not have gone away and will be fighting hard for their share.”
Since September 2004, more than 300 bids have been developed in the UK, bringing more than £100 million of new finance for towns and cities including Harrogate, Northallerton and York to improve and promote their locations, with a view to attracting more shoppers and visitors.
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Councillor calls for market traders to be treated fairlyA district councillor who has championed the cause of market traders is calling on Harrogate Borough Council to treat them fairly, in the wake of lockdown losses.
Independent Ripon Councillor Pauline McHardy, pictured above, with market trader Mike Finan (centre) and his son Will, told The Stray Ferret:
“For hundreds of years, the markets in Ripon and Knaresborough have made a major contribution to their local economy, by providing an important service for shoppers and bringing additional footfall that benefits other retailers, cafes, pubs and restaurants – but they appear to be undervalued by the local authority.”
The three-time Mayor of Ripon, who supported the ‘Love Your Local Market’ campaign set up in 2012 to fight for the future of markets across the UK, added:
“I have been speaking with non-food traders who have been coming here for years and they feel that, while other parts of the business community have been given proactive support from the council, in terms of advice and financial assistance, they have been left to sink or swim.”
Campaigners have called for traders at Ripon and Knaresborough markets to be given more support
HBC has given a three-month rent break to all commercial tenants in its premises, at a cost of £200,000 to the authority.
Cllr McHardy added:
“Other local authority areas in Yorkshire, including Hambleton, Craven, Leeds and Ryedale, have helped traders with either rent-free periods or reduced rents. However, following 11 weeks in which they were unable to earn any money, they found themselves having to pay full rents in Ripon and Knaresborough. It’s time for Harrogate Borough Council to start treating them fairly.”
Stallholder Mike Finan, whose family has sold women’s clothing on Ripon Market for more than 50 years, said:
“It has been really tough having weeks with no money coming in. When we returned to the markets at Thirsk and Northallerton, we were helped by the fact that rents have been reduced by 50 percent for June, but Harrogate has given us nothing.”
Steve Teggin, president of Knaresborough Chamber of Trade, said:
“The value of these traders to our communities can be seen week in, week out, as market day is a magnet that attracts much-needed business to our town centre. They deserve more help.”
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Traders selling goods classed by the government as non-essential, did not have to pay rent during the weeks when they have been unable to stand, but food stall holders trading at scaled-down markets during the lockdown, were charged full rents.
Brian Murphy whose family has sold fruit and vegetables at Ripon Market for more than 100 years, said:
“At Otley, we have not been charged any rent during the coronavirus crisis and that continues, but we have had zero financial help from Harrogate.”
When approached for comment on the continuing concerns raised by stall holders, Harrogate Borough Council reiterated a previous statement in which it said:
“Where we have charged, fees have been held at last year’s rates. It’s disappointing to hear that one or two traders feel we’ve not been supportive. We’ve done all we can to ensure our markets can fully re-open safely and to enable traders to get back to business as usual.”