As the Business Improvement District (BID) in Harrogate, one of the key services we deliver are our teams on the street. Our two Street Rangers and Town Centre Support Officer (TCSO) work hard on a daily basis to ensure our town centre is safe, clean and welcoming for all businesses, residents and visitors.
As one of over 400 BIDs in the UK, we aim to offer additionality on top of baseline statutory services delivered by the local authority and police force.
Working both proactively and reactively around the town centre, both teams act as the eyes and ears for our BID Members to respond to any issues and offer a friendly ambassadorial presence to make sure Harrogate remains an attractive, must-visit destination.
So far this year, the BID Street Ranger team have offered a return on investment of more than £39,000 to the levy paying members in Harrogate through a list of varied jobs including deep cleaning the streets, reactive jet washes, clearing litter and other difficult materials in hotspot areas of town and maintenance works including weeding, painting and repairs.
Samuel and Darren have covered tens of thousands of square metres using the deep cleaning equipment introduced by the BID in 2024 – which has given the town centre a refreshing new look by removing dirt, grime and other tricky substances from the streets.
We often receive fantastic feedback for the useful work our Street Rangers do for our town’s business community, with the duo carrying out hundreds of unique jobs already this year to maximise our town as a destination.
Our Town Centre Support Officer Kiam also continues to make a very positive impact on Harrogate town centre. Following the introduction of the role in early 2024, our TCSO has worked alongside partners and member organisations to support and improve the town.
Using a sharp eye for detail, Kiam has been instrumental in the town’s bid to tackle and reduce crime and anti-social behaviour – helping to retrieve thousands of pounds worth of stolen items, supporting local police officers to see they are returned to the correct businesses and the suspects are apprehended.
Through different campaigns, surveys, sharing of important information and gathering vital evidence, Kiam has gained the support of our levy-paying members who continue to put their trust and confidence in the work he does to safeguard the BID area and town centre as a whole.
Partnership working is a key aspect of the TCSO role and Kiam has been proactive in forming relationships with organisations including North Yorkshire Council and North Yorkshire Police, with the hope of developing these further in the future to formulate new ideas for campaigns and services for the good of Harrogate.
Our teams on the street were an integral part of the feedback we received during our consultation for our second term as the BID in Harrogate. So, we’re very proud that we continue to deliver these positive, impactful services on a daily basis for the good of our town.
As we move further into our second term, we will continue to develop and enhance the services, projects and events we deliver to ensure Harrogate remains the ‘jewel in Yorkshire’s crown’ it’s known as on a regional and national scale.
If you would like to request our Street Ranger service, or have any feedback to offer on our teams on the street, please email us on info@harrogatebid.co.uk