Published: Wednesday, 17th March, 2010 11:24am

BID team vows to deliver for town centre traders

by Iain Robertson

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The popular continental market is set to return to Alloa.

ALLOA Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) has celebrated its first anniversary and 12 months that have seen over £2.5m invested in the area.

Businesses in the town voted in favour of plans to regenerate Alloa by delivering a resounding YES vote for the creation of a BID in October 2008.

The result means businesses pay a levy which is spent on implementing on-going improvements to the physical appearance of the town.

Alloa BID has been at the vanguard of the movement to create a more attractive, enjoyable and safer place for visitors to enjoy and do business.

BID manager Andrew Mitchell said, "The transformations going on in Alloa are hitting the headlines, and good news spreads fast.

"When readers of the Advertiser keep hearing about what's happening in the town they will be attracted to come and see for themselves, which will help increase footfall and boost the economy."

The shop front improvement scheme currently benefiting some businesses in Alloa is set to be rolled out to give the whole town a facelift.

Neil McFarlane, BID board member and owner of McFarlane Jewellers and Watchmakers, said, "Across the town centre, we are trying to boost business and improve the appearance of the town."

Since its inception, the BID has worked hard to bring events to the town, aimed at creating a vibrant atmosphere that will help attract visitors to Alloa time and again.

Last October, the town hosted its first ever Continental Market, which attracted thousands of visitors. And the market will return again next month for three days, from Thursday 8 April to Saturday 10 April.

There have also been a plethora of innovative and cash generating seasonal events such as the 'Alloa on Ice' spectacular and Christmas Grotto.

The town centre clock - which hadn't worked in decades - began chiming again in November of last year.

It was part of the business plan for the BID and has been successfully delivered.

Car parks have been awarded Park Mark status thanks to work done by the BID in partnership with Clackmannanshire Council - all eight car parks in Alloa town centre have been given the award.

Visitors seeing the Park Mark symbol know they are visiting a car park that has been vetted by the police and has measures in place in order to create a safer environment for people and their vehicle.

Anyone visiting Alloa at the moment can't fail to see the fast pace of physical change that is taking place thanks to the Scottish Government's £2m investment to regenerate the town.

The town centre fund was drawn up by the SNP Government as a concession to the Conservative Party for their support in passing their budget at Holyrood.

Under the banner 'Imagine Alloa', the BID team, along with Clackmannanshire Alliance and Clackmannanshire Council, are using the grant to transform Alloa.

As part of the town centre works the bus station will be professionally cleaned, clearing it of dirt and graffiti.

There is also a plan to add more accent lighting to the area.

Lighting in the town is being improved and brought up to current British and European lighting design standards.

The whole effect is to make the town centre a brighter and more welcoming experience.

Local MP Gordon Banks and the area's MSP Keith Brown have both given their backing and support to the hard work being done by people to advance the impact the BID can have on the long term fortunes of the area.

Mr Banks said priorities for the BID team will be ever changing and insisted it will be important that they show some versatility to deal with the future challenges that will arise after the current improvement work is completed.

He continued "The key objective of the group will always be to make Alloa a better place to live, work and play.

"Whilst work in the town centre is ongoing we can all see the improvements being made to the pavements and the grants being offered to premises in the centre will make a real difference."

Mr Brown praised the BID team for working in the interests of Alloa town centre at a time of such severe economic constraints.

He added, "Initiatives like the continental market draw people into the town centre and the people dropping into my office to give feedback certainly found it a positive and enjoyable experience.

"Partnership working was one of the criteria set for applications to the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund and I am sure that the Alloa BID played its part in the successful application, which, when the improvements are finally finished will be of benefit to everyone."

Future Plans

Looking ahead, the BID team plans to bring forward a shop mobility scheme to help disabled people gain easier access to the town.

It also aims to introduce the Best Bar None project which addresses alcohol-related crime and the night time environment.

Neil McFarlane said, "There are lots of projects in the pipeline and it will be exciting seeing these developed in the future."

To help put money back in traders' pockets, the BID in Scotland unveiled its first group procurement offering recently - a special deal for BID members with Opal Telecom Limited.

This will be piloted in the Falkirk BID area and will afford businesses the opportunity to make significant cost savings on their telephone bills.

Andrew Mitchell said, "By year three, businesses in Alloa will hopefully save cash through group procurement.

"This means they will, in effect, get the money back that they pay through the levy, and on top of that will see physical changes to the town and events organised to attract more people to Alloa."

A BID is not a substitute for central or local government investment, but an additional investment to strengthen the local economy and give local businesses a unified voice, helping to provide an arena for businesses and local authorities to increase their understanding of each others priorities.

The concept was originally set up in Canada but took off in the US in the late 1970s. A BID can last no longer than five years, and will be either dissolved at the end of its term or will seek a new mandate and term.

Anyone who would like to come forward with creative ideas on how to assist with the improvements taking place should call Andrew Mitchell on 01259 727313, or email andrew@atcbid.com