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30
Oct 2021
'Time to come together' for Knaresborough businesses after BID row
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:
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:
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:
Read more:
- Council submits plans for new Knaresborough leisure centre
- Knaresborough businesses take over Christmas tree duties from chamber
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:
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