Welcome to our February 2022 Newsletter
I don’t know about you, but the weather this weekend has made me feel that Spring is just around the corner, and with that the promise of lighter nights and warmer weather, something we will all welcome.
I hope you enjoy reading our latest newsletter, which will inform you of what we have been up to over the last month, all of which is aimed at benefiting the town centre and our levy payers.
Our Street Ranger and BID Manager have been starring on BBC Radio York, our Harrogate Letters are making a name for themsleves, and if you want a hanging basket this year, you still have time to let us know.
Yours sincerely
Sara
Sara Ferguson
BID Chair
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Colourful ‘Harrogate letters’ brightening up drab town centre street
Nine colourful letters, spelling out the word Harrogate, are now brightening up a drab town centre street.
The mosaics have been funded by Harrogate BID (Business Improvement District) and created by differently-able artists at town centre charity, Artizan International, and are now adorning the side wall of the Boots building, on Cambridge Place.
Before the project started, The BID asked businesses and residents what they felt best symbolised the town. The responses, which included Bettys, cycling, Yorkshire Tea and The Stray, were then given to Douglas Thompson, local mosaic artist and freelance creative at Artizan, who came up with the individual designs.
Harrogate BID Chair Sara Ferguson said: “I’d like to thank the team at Artizan International for the work they have done in creating these stunning letters.
“Now in place, the mosaics look absolutely fantastic, and they have given the much-used passage between Cambridge Street and Oxford Street a real lift.
“This has been a fantastic partnership, the result of which is now bringing some much-needed colour to Cambridge Place at the same time as enhancing the area.”
Susie Hart MBE, Artizan International Founder said: “I would like to thank Harrogate BID for giving us the opportunity to create something truly special for the town centre.
“Our members and volunteers spent many hours creating each of the nine letters. They have taken great pride in their work, and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.”
“And each time they journey along Cambridge Place, they will have the satisfaction of knowing they have made these letters which are now adding a positive contribution to the town centre.”
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School pupils say ‘I Love Harrogate’ in BID Valentine video
Children from six Harrogate schools have spoken from the heart to help make a new video to promote the town.
The youngsters from St Peter’s, Coppice Valley, Birstwith & Admiral Long, Oatlands, Richard Taylor, and Western, took centre stage in the Harrogate BID-funded ‘I Love Harrogate’ film, which for two weeks was projected onto the window of an empty Cambridge Street shop, located opposite Beulah Street.
The 15-minute film was screened exclusively in the town centre through the February half-term holiday – which included Valentine’s Day – until Wednesday, February 23. It will now be posted on the BID’s social media channels.
The aim of I Love Harrogate was to capture the innocence and imagination of our young Harrogate community, give everyone a positive and uplifting experience, and in turn give the town centre a greater community feel.
Paul Griffiths, Head of St Peter’s Church of England Primary School, situated in the heart of Harrogate town centre, said: “We were delighted to be invited to contribute to this video, and our children really enjoyed saying why they love Harrogate.
“We are very fortunate to live in Harrogate, and even luckier that our school is in the middle of the town. On our doorstep we have The Stray, The Library and its gardens, and of course all the great shops, restaurants and entertainment venues, all within a short walk.”
Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID Manager, said: “The I Love Harrogate video is the first in a series of films that we are making with those who live and work in the town. It is also a reminder that for many years Harrogate has been held up as one of the happiest places to live.”
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BID again helping facilitate supply of town centre floral hanging baskets
Harrogate BID is again working with Harrogate Borough Council to facilitate the supply of floral hanging baskets in the town centre.As in previous years, the scheme will be subsidised by Harrogate Borough Council, and the subsidised cost of each basket will be £82.
There are limited numbers of baskets available at this rate, and orders need to be placed by midday on Friday, March 4.
The baskets, which will be put up in the first two weeks of June, will be maintained by Harrogate Borough Council, and then taken down in late September/early October.
For hanging baskets to be fitted, business will need a bracket for each basket, and Harrogate Borough Council will conduct a safety inspection by Friday, May 6.
Harrogate BID Manager Matthew Chapman said: “In previous years, the job of liaising with businesses and Harrogate Borough Council has been done by Harrogate in Bloom. Last year we were approached by representatives of Harrogate in Bloom, asking if we could take over their function.
“Harrogate is famed for its floral displays, and the hanging baskets outside shops, restaurants and businesses, always look fantastic, and help add as huge splash of colour to the town.|”
Businesses wishing to order baskets, or wanting more information, are asked to email info@harrogatebid.co.uk.
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Counter Terrorism Awareness under spotlight at March’s Harrogate BID Club
Thursday, March 3 is our next BID Club and one that we hope we will be of interest to all of our Levy payers.
For this event, we have partnered with Counter Terrorism Policing North East to provide Counter Terrorism Awareness sessions for all BID members.
Over the past five years and beyond, the UK has experienced multiple devastating terrorist attacks that have affected thousands of lives. It is vital that businesses are aware of what they should be looking out for, and what to do if they suspect something isn’t right.
The first awareness session, taking place between at between 10m and 1pm on Thursday, March 4, at The Cedar Court Hotel, aims to raise awareness and understand the terrorism threat in the UK.
We would like to invite you and your colleagues to attend this session as part of our monthly networking event. The sessions that will be delivered on this date are ACT Awareness and SCaN (See Check and Notify).
ACT Awareness & SCaN is suitable for all, specifically those who interact with the public/customers.
Spaces are limited for this session and if you wish to attend, please email info@harrogatebid.co.uk
ACT Awareness
The aim of ACT Awareness is to help individuals understand the threat from terrorism to the UK, guide individuals on what to do if they find themselves in a serious terrorist incident or event that leads up to a planned attack and to enable people to recognise and support suspicious activity.
SCaN (See Check and Notify)
SCaN (See Check and Notify) aims to allow individuals to understand the current threat, understand what hostile reconnaissance is and how hostiles, think, feel & behave on the ground. Individuals will understand how security & customer service impacts on criminality – how behaving in a proactive, vigilant & capable manner can deter, and conversely, how appearing uninterested, bored & unlikely to engage can motivate hostiles. Individuals will learn about the ‘Power of Hello’; how simple, friendly engagement can be hugely disruptive & deterring for hostiles operating at a site.
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BBC Radio York’s breakfast Show ‘OB’ for BID
Earlier this month, we were delighted to host BBC Radio York’s roving breakfast show reporter, Julia Lewis, who was keen to find out more about the roll of new BID Street Ranger Chris Ashby – whose job is to help keep the town centre looking at its best.
The OB (Outside Broadcast) saw Julia spending three hours with Chris and BID Manager, Matthew Chapman, visiting a number of town centre ‘hotspots’, and helped him clean graffiti from lampposts and jet washing pavements outside Victoria Shopping Centre.
Harrogate BID Manager Matthew Chapman said: “It was our pleasure hosting BBC Radio York’s Julia Lewis and informing its listeners about Harrogate BID, and in particular Chris’s role in ensuring the BID area is looking clean and welcoming.
“He also liaises closely with our partners at Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Police.
“Since joining us, Chris is now a familiar face in the town cente, and the work he’s doing is already making a noticeable difference.”
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