Ayr Newsletter Issue 1 March 2015

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Newsletter ter

The latest from in and around Ayr Town Centre

Welcome to Ayr Newsletter WELCOME to the first edition of Ayr newsletter – the quick and easy way for you to keep up-to-date with the latest news and events in and around Ayr town centre.

Many of the projects you will hear about have been financed by the BIDs project through the INTERREG IVA Cross-Border Programme. This funding was awarded to South Ayrshire Council, and is really starting to make a difference.

We want the newsletter to work for you and to give you the information you want and need – tell us what you think using the contact details below enquiries@ayrtowncentre.co.uk 01292 617606

Issue 1 | Spring 2015

Shops get the VIP treatment

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usiness properties within Ayr town centre are getting a makeover in the form of eye-catching window vinyls, which will transform the look of our streets.

A selection of 9 properties in the High Street, Alloway Street, Sandgate and Newmarket Street are all scheduled for the new vinyls, which feature striking visuals from iconic images of Ayr to local artistry work.

The vinyls will all be in place by the start of April and the finished images will be available on our new Town Centre Steering Group website.

A few of the images used on the window vinyls

Business & Retailers go online

Town Centre group gets going

Counting the feet on the street

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02 AYR NEWSLETTER Issue 1 | Spring 2015

NEW WEBSITE

Ayr’s Town Centre Steering Group has created a dedicated website for businesses and retailers within the town centre.

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he website, www.ayrtowncentre.co.uk, will provide businesses and retailers with an easy to use, online platform for communicating, sharing ideas and finding information on operating a business within Ayr town centre.

It features a forum facility which is exclusively for businesses and retailers within the town centre, who can create topics for discussion and engage with other business owners on subjects that they feel are important to both their business and the community.

It also provides visitors with information regarding events and latest news within Ayr. It’s still in the early stages of development and we hope to see it grow in use and popularity. To visit the website, or sign up as a business, go to www.ayrtowncentre.co.uk.

www.ayrtowncentre.co.uk

Businesses and retailers go online

The latest from in and around Ayr Town Centre

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Town centre group gets going!

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he new town centre website is the latest development from the Town Centre Steering Group, which has been establishing itself over the last few months.

The key challenges the group is working to address include dwindling footfall and an increase in retail property vacancies, and its efforts made a real difference in the run up to Christmas.

A dedicated festive campaign and events programme brought some real festive cheer to the auld town and even featured a global icon!

Some 20,000 people flocked to the town centre to have their photo taken – or take their very own selfie! – with the iconic Coca Cola truck.

This fantastic event was complemented by a packed festive programme featuring street entertainers, face painters and children’s fairground rides in the High Street every weekend in the run up to Christmas.

Feedback on the programme was very positive, and planning is already underway to ensure the town can keep up the good work in 2015.

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20,000 people

Some

flocked

“

The group, chaired by Peter Clark, brings together representatives from the services and retail community – as well as South Ayrshire Council – to work collaboratively in driving a strategic approach to improving the town centre for locals, businesses and visitors alike.

to the town centre to have their photo taken with the

iconic

Coca Cola

truck

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www.ayrtowncentre.co.uk

Survey information helps shape way forward Having the right information to help identify issues and areas for improvement in the town is really important, as the town surveys carried out last year have proved.

The independent surveys – which were commissioned by South Ayrshire Council and also carried out in Girvan, Maybole, Prestwick and Troon – asked South Ayrshire shoppers, residents and businesses for their views on their town centres and encouraged feedback on how these might be improved.

People were also questioned on how they use their local town centres for shopping, recreation, leisure and as a visitor destination.

The findings were presented to local businesses and community representatives, which prompted lots of discussion, and will now help shape next steps and the development of further improvement actions.

The main findings from each town: GIRVAN

MAYBOLE

PRESTWICK

TROON

AYR

Presented a mixed picture for the town centre with positive community support from shoppers and residents expressed towards the town retail services and environment.

However, there was a contrary and less positive view among the businesses. Empty shops came up as an issue and like Maybole shopping leakage towards Ayr was seen as an issue. At the feedback session the positives from the findings about Girvan where re-enforced by those present but felt it was felt that there is the need to get the positive message out more widely to other South Ayrshire towns.

Results indicated that the majority of town centre use is by local residents, with positive levels of local community support for shops and services. The findings show traffic concerns in the town centre and that Maybole faces considerable challenges in minimising shopping ‘leakage’ from people going to Ayr town centre.

Shoppers and residents said the town had a good variety of quality retail outlets, food and drink restaurants. Parking, traffic and public seating were flagged as concerns, but, on balance, the survey findings showed that it was seen as a well maintained town centre with a positive feel.

Results showed a positive picture for the town, with a high recognition of its quality shops and local business. Those attending the feedback session were surprised by residents suggesting the town needed more discount stores. Some retailers indicated that some shoppers feel Troon only had shops offering expensive goods – and this might be driving some shoppers away from town.

Shoppers and residents in Ayr believe the range of shops and services and the ranges of cafes and restaurants are good. However, the survey revealed concerns about the lack of seating and toilets, and some people surveyed felt that Ayr was run down. Those present at the Ayr feedback session re-enforced the findings of issues around parking and traffic within the town centre. The surveys revealed shopping leakage to other areas, though Ayr is still commonly the main choice for a range of shops and services.

You can view the full surveys and their findings at www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/town-centre-surveys

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Make sure you’re on Mi Ayr! Counting the feet on the street Helping provide even more useful information for local businesses are three footfall counters which have now been installed in key locations within the town centre, thanks to the steering group. The counters are located above the EE shop, above the South Ayrshire Council Customer Services Office and at the corner of Newmarket Street.

Footfall counters are used in different ways and can provide a variety of key performance indicators. These can include information on visitors to the High Street and Newmarket Street, as well as vital statistics on which days and times show the highest people traffic through the town.

The counters are also a great marketing tool, with the information provided helping shape marketing and promotional plans. Keep track of the footfall statistics on the town centre website.

M

ake sure your business joins the town centre in going digital by signing up to the Mi Ayr app.

Mi Ayr allows businesses within Ayr to connect with customers, shoppers and visitors through the use of their smartphone, tablet or computer.

It also provides details of any special offers, events, existing promotions as well as providing up to date news and information. And it has a fantastic interactive map of the town, outlining the directions to and from the businesses registered with the app.

Users can access the app via the Mi-Ayr website or download straight to their mobile device. Find out more at www.mi-ayr.co.uk.

We want to hear from you...

The Town Centre Steering Group meet on a monthly basis and are keen to hear from Retailers and Business owners who believe they can positively contribute towards making Ayr a fantastic shopping and tourist destination.

Enquiries can be forwarded to (Chairman) Peter Clark at chairman@ayrtowncentre.co.uk

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The latest from in and around Ayr Town Centre

Ambition gives boost to businesses

Useful Numbers

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outh Ayrshire Council is encouraging local businesses to make use of funding available for a range of purposes. The Ambition Programme has various funding streams available, including a £500 marketing grant, a £2,000 Business Development Grant, a £10,000 High Growth Business Development Grant and more.

Emergency Services Monitoring Station (Out Of Hours) 0300 123 0900

To find out more about the funding grants, the criteria and how to apply, visit www.ambitionprogramme.co.uk/growth You can also contact Rachel McCallum, Enterprise Officer on 01292 616265 or Rachel.mccallum@south-ayrshire.gov.uk

MAY

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SEPTEMBER

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DECEMBER

DECEMBER

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Road & Lighting Faults (24 Hours) 0300 123 0900

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SEPTEMBER Mon

Housing Repairs (Out of Hours) 0300 123 0900 Social Work Standby Service 0300 123 0900

Public Holidays 2015 MAY

Emergency Homeless (Out Of Hours) 0300 123 0900

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Noise Helpline 0300 123 0900 Please keep for future use

Leave Your Feedback If you have any comments you would like to make regarding the work being carried out by the Ayr Town Centre Steering Group please get in touch.

Newsletter tter

Ayr Newsletter is brought to you by:

Supported by:

Contact Details John Fleming, Town Centre Project Officer Tel 01292 617606

enquiries@ayrtowncentre.co.uk www.ayrtowncentre.co.uk

A Project supported by the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body