SHOPPING

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As high streets are decimated by the recession, fake business facades have been installed to create the illusion that shops are still occupied. North Tyneside Council is trialling the new window treatment that at first glance gives the impression that units are occupied. The crumbling facade of the vacant Select clothing store in the centre of Whitley Bay has been smartened up with the design treatment, which gives the impression of a high-quality delicatessen. The same approach is being considered for empty premises in North Shields and Wallsend.

The graphic designs, which feature a range of different shop types, are either taped inside the windows or screwed to the fascia so they can be removed and re-used as required. The designs also features contact information for anyone wishing to let the property as well as details for the council's business support services. The scheme is the latest initiative by the Retail Centres Task Group, which has been set up by North Tyneside Council, to bring together representatives of all the town centres with key agencies to support shopping centres.

Karen Goldfinch, chairman of Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade, said, "This makes a great difference to our high street - it looks tidy and professional. It's an excellent way of promoting how a unit can be used, making you think about it in a different way to what you've been used to seeing, perhaps inspiring new businesses to come into the town. I believe this is the first treatment of this kind to empty shops, not just in this area, but the whole country, and it's good to think that we are leading the way forward in this. It is another positive thing for Whitley Bay. We all have the interests of our town at heart, and can contribute in different ways."

Judith Wallace, North Tyneside Council's Deputy Mayor, said, "We need to do whatever we can to support our businesses and our town centres. The recession has forced many businesses to bring down their shutters. We need to ensure that the remaining businesses continue to survive and that means ensuring our high streets look as attractive as possible to both shoppers and potential business investors. This is a simple and cost-effective approach that keeps the retail unit available for potential new uses and in the meantime also contributes to the street scene." (Source: Daily Mail, Mar/10)

Shopkeepers at the Westfield shopping centre are worried that high business rates could force them to close. Business rates are a tax calculated on the value of the shop set by the Valuation Office Agency, which is a branch of Revenue & Customs. David Middleton, who owns Toy Planet at the Westfield Centre, said the rates were 75% higher than he expected. The VOA said it would listen to the concerns of shopkeepers and consider whether further reductions in rateable values were warranted.

Many traders say they have been forced to cut the number of staff in a bid to save money and smaller, independent stores could close if the rates are not reduced. Christopher Matthews, owner of jewellery store Crystal Chain, said that the rateable value of his business was set nearly £10,000 higher that the rent he pays every year.

He said, "The valuation office has set unrealistic rateable values which are devastating businesses already struggling for survival. Shops in the new Westfield centre are paying crippling business rates based on rateable values, which are way in excess of the actual rents being paid. I have had to cut the number of staff in my store down to one person as I cannot afford to keep anyone else on." (Source: BBC News, Mar/08)

The cost of a campaign to support independent traders in the wake of the opening of Westfield was more than £800,000, which the city council spent on advertising and street improvements. It announced it was also investing a further £825,000 a year on rate relief for businesses in the Cathedral Quarter. A report shows that £863,139 was spent on directly or indirectly helping small traders in the city. Council leader Chris Williamson said the figures showed the authority was committed to helping small businesses in the city thrive.

The amount includes £30,000 spent on producing vinyl posters, which have been put up in the former Debenhams store windows in Victoria Street to promote the Cathedral Quarter, £7,000 for additional Christmas lights in Victoria Street, Green Lane, Strand, Bold Lane, Cheapside and Queen Street and £30,000 on more litter bins in Strand, Sadler Gate and other areas of the city. A further £26,000 was used for repainting benches, bins and posts in Iron Gate, Sadler Gate and Cornmarket. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Feb/08)

Companies will be able to influence what improvements are made in the Cathedral Quarter after voting in favour of the area becoming a Business Improvement District. Following a month of voting, the majority of businesses in the area have agreed that the Cathedral Quarter should have BID status. The campaign for the Cathedral Quarter to become a BID was launched in March. Several months of consultation followed to formulate a business plan, which was formally unveiled in October.

It highlighted five key objectives, to increase awareness of the Cathedral Quarter, improve access, extend the length of stay by visitors, make visitors feel safe and secure and to increase the amount of external investment. The plan recommends ideas including seasonal marketing campaigns and a visitor loyalty scheme, subsidised or free parking, extension of bus routes and a cleaning "hit squad". Street wardens to meet and greet visitors will be introduced to help them feel welcome and safe.

Business Improvement Districts are part of a Government strategy to encourage local authorities and business communities to work together. Under the scheme, rate-paying businesses have a say on improvements in the area and pay an extra levy to put them in place. To go ahead, the plan needed the backing of 50% of the businesses, which need to hold more than 50% of the rateable value of those which voted.

The new BID proposals will now go ahead as 84.7% of participating businesses voted in favour. They also represented 74% of the rateable value. From March, each business in the Cathedral Quarter will pay a 1.5% levy on their rates, meaning the BID should generate more than £1m for the Cathedral Quarter in its five-year lifetime. All the improvements paid for through the BID will be in addition to those already provided by the council. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Nov/07)

The future of independent retailers in the city centre is being threatened by the recent opening of the Westfield Centre. Several shops have had to make staff redundant and claim they will have to close in a matter of weeks. They are calling for a rescue package including a decrease in council rates to help traders hurt by a drop in business. City council leader Chris Williamson said they were working with businesses to raise the profile of the area. He said local traders had been aware that Westfield was opening for a long time.

However, Westfield managers insist the extra retail outlets and the increased number of shoppers they would attract would benefit everyone. Terri Reynolds, who owns Ruby Shoesday in Victoria Street, said last week her shop took just £900, compared to nearly £6,000 in the same week last year. She said, "The day Westfield opened, we got a letter saying the rates we pay to the council were going up by £2,500. That means I am paying £20,500 a year in rates and when my takings are falling to £900 a week and I also have a rent bill of £26,000, the sums don't add up." (Source: BBC News, Nov/07)

Companies will be able to influence what improvements are made in Derby's Cathedral Quarter after voting in favour of the area becoming a Business Improvement District. Following a month of voting, the majority of businesses in the area have agreed that the Cathedral Quarter should have BID status. The campaign for the Cathedral Quarter to become a BID was launched in March. Several months of consultation followed to formulate a business plan, which was formally unveiled in October.

It highlighted five key objectives, to increase awareness of the Cathedral Quarter, improve access, extend the length of stay by visitors, make visitors feel safe and secure and to increase the amount of external investment. The plan recommends ideas including seasonal marketing campaigns and a visitor loyalty scheme, subsidised or free parking, extension of bus routes and a cleaning "hit squad". Street wardens to meet and greet visitors will be introduced to help them feel welcome and safe.

Business Improvement Districts are part of a Government strategy to encourage local authorities and business communities to work together. Under the scheme, rate-paying businesses have a say on improvements in the area and pay an extra levy to put them in place. To go ahead, the plan needed the backing of 50% of the businesses, which need to hold more than 50% of the rateable value of those which voted.

The new BID proposals will now go ahead as 84.7% of participating businesses voted in favour. They also represented 74% of the rateable value. From March, each business in the Cathedral Quarter will pay a 1.5% levy on their rates, meaning the BID should generate more than £1m for the Cathedral Quarter in its five-year lifetime. All the improvements paid for through the BID will be in addition to those already provided by the council. (Source: Derby Evening Telegraph, Nov/07)

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