Royston First BID Review

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IN SUPPORT OF A THIRD TERM FOR YOUR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

The BID Review 2009-2019

02 Royston First | BID REVIEW | 2009-2019

What has the BID done for Royston..?

Over the last ten years your Business Improvement District has generated a great deal of additional funding, all of which has been put to good use.

A505 link road consultation and campaign

Arts studio in the High Street negotiated and sponsored

Accommodation Guide

Here’s how its been spent:

Angel Pavement refurbishment

Business database - compiled and published a comprehensive list of all businesses in Royston

KEY

Annual town centre footfall surveys Completed projects Projects researched or pending

ANPR cameras Arts Festival - funding support for this community event

Business Rates Revaluation consultation Busking strategy - in consultation with NHDC Christmas Carnivals

Royston First | BID REVIEW | 2009-2019 03

Christmas lights Clubs and Associations Guide Community Reassurance event - funding support Discover Royston - promotion of the Cave, Museum and Town Trail Easter Town Trail - annual town event Eatery Showreel - for advertising in the cinema Employee parking season tickets Finger signs to industrial areas Free-after-3 parking High Street parking bollards - cushioned and replaceable Ice rink - sponsorship

Incentivising new retailers ... e.g. introduced a butcher to the town centre Independents’ Day - funding support Industrial estate congestion consultation Market - purchase of stalls and general funding support Medieval Festival Mobile busker stage - on the market Music Town Trail - annual town event NHDC Parking Consultations - representation Open Secrets - funding support for this business community event Operation Artemis - late night police patrols

04 Royston First | BID REVIEW | 2009-2019

Pirate Town Trail - annual town event Pop up shop

Overheads Savings Project consultation funded external consultant Parking scheme evaluation comparative study with other towns, compiled and shared Parking scratchcards for industrial estate employees Parking statistics project Pigeon proofing

R YSTON

BUSINESS

AWARDS

Power columns in the market place

Royston Picture Palace

Retail Revival mystery shopper project

Royston Rampage - car club curbed

Retail Showreel - for advertising in the cinema

Royston Rockets BMX club house - match funding

Royston after school club - funding support

Royston Town Guide re-design

Royston Business Awards - funding support for local business event Royston Focus - annual guide to consumer businesses Royston Food Fair Royston in Bloom - funding support

Royston Town Showreel - for advertising in cinemas Royston Town Website - www.roystontown.uk - built and maintained RTC Markets Working Party - representation RTC May Fayre Working Party - representation

Royston First | BID REVIEW | 2009-2019 05

RUDOLPH’S

RTC Town Centre Working Party - representation Rudolph’s Christmas Trail - annual town event Seasonal window painting Shortened Town Trail guides Shuttle bus - from the industrial estate to the town centre South Close signage Street deep cleaning - up to 3 times yearly Summer Soul event - funding support Toilet scheme - customised maps Town map - tear off pad for Estate Agents

Town centre WiFi

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Town Trail guides Update - communication up to 3 times a year to businesses in Royston Visitor Information Centre Welcome Packs to new businesses Welcome signs - industrial estate Window dressing demonstration Window dressing of empty properties Window dressing for retailers Youth Easter sports activities - sponsorship Youth shelter - skateboard park

I’M ON THE

06 Royston First | BID REVIEW | 2009-2019

What about the empty shops in Royston..?

Retailers Total number in Royston n Currently trading n Being refurbished or recently sold n Not trading/empty

A selection of statistics for you to consider ...

THE FACTS

On the 1st December 2018

In the last year there have been

25,500 visitors

86 80 5 1

to the Royston Town website

Banks, estate agents, building societies, funeral directors, dentists etc

In the last year there have been over

Total number in Royston n Currently trading n Not trading/empty

of the 3 Royston videos promoting Royston, its retailers and eateries

1,500 views

25 23 2

Restaurants, pubs and cafĂŠs Total number in Royston n Currently trading n Being refurbished or recently sold n Not trading/empty

This represents a significant advertising opportunity for local businesses whilst providing a much needed leisure facility for residents and employees alike

Between June 2013 and March 2018 the Royston Picture Palace sold a total of

48,028 tickets

33 29 2 2

Royston Annual Footfall over the past 9 years Royston First sponsor PMRS to conduct an annual comprehensive footfall survey in the town centre. Results confirm that we are succeeding in maintaining footfall during difficult trading conditions for retail.

The UK national retail vacancy rate at the end of 2017 (LDC) was 11.2%

Weekly footfall

This represents a vacancy rate of 3.5%

7,000 6,000 5,000 2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Royston First | BID REVIEW | 2009-2019 07

Just in case we’ve made it look easy ...

Christmas Lights

We thought we’d attempt to give you an insight into just what it takes to deliver a project from scratch, such as a one-off project like the Royston Picture Palace or an annual project such as the Christmas Lights....

Royston Picture Palace

Technical specification entire display

Load testing and certification catenaries & brackets

PAT testing and certification - all circuits & components

New and replacement motifs specified and ordered

The community cinema has been the single largest budgeted item since launching the BID. Here’s how we got there...

Feasibility study of competing locations n Concept pitched to Royston Town Council (RTC) n Surveys conducted by RTC n Secure funding - Royston First, RTC, regional n Disabled lifts and toilets approved n Supplier identification/negotiation n Detailed plans including sight lines, projection pod design, air conditioning, sound and acoustics, etc. n Business plan developed/approved n

n Replacement of all windows with Contractor double glazing briefings n Screen and seating custom-built n Lift installation n Hall floor strengthened n “First Fix” projection and sound systems completed n Seating and screen installation n Trial screening to test technology and procedures n Purchase and installation of online ticketing system n Volunteer training and rota planning Hertfordshire n Gala launch

Before...

...and after

The Christmas lights transform the town centre each year

HCC & National regulation compliance

Electrical testing and certification each section

County Council part 1 licence (permission to install)

The completed cinema, with seating for 132 people

Lamp columns stress testing

Hertfordshire County Council part 2 licence (electrical certification of installed display)

Get in touch For further information on any aspect of this document, please contact: 01763 878242 info@roystonfirst.com www.roystonfirst.com www.facebook.com/roystonfirst

Information Roadshow Drop in and talk to us at the Information Roadshow on Thursday January 24th: Royston Town Hall Melbourn Street SG8 7DA

12.00pm - 2.00pm

Sartorius Stedim Atrium Grantham Close SG8 5WY

6.00pm - 7.30pm

SUPPORT YOUR BID WITH A YES VOTE IN FEBRUARY

ROYSTON F1RST c/o Town Hall Melbourn Street Royston SG8 7DA t 01763 878 242 e info@roystonfirst.com

© Royston First BID Company Limited and Heartflood Limited 2019