Carlisle companies are rallying behind plans to set up a Business Improvement District for the city.
A steering group has been working together for months as The Great Border City group to come up with ways to help improve the city’s status and focus on ensuring it is a great place to work and live.
The aim is to improve the city through bolder marketing, by staging activities such as events and festivals, creating shopping and food and drink offers, addressing business park issues, offering support to firms and providing them with a voice.
The Great Border City initiative is an independent group who believe that the city can improve its economic standing, its vitality, and its vibrancy by working together.
Carlisle United owner Tom Piatak said: “As we’re investing in the football club, it’s important to invest in the city and the community as well. The time is right to invest in Carlisle.
“Let’s not waste this opportunity to make this city grow. I believe it’s the right approach and makes tremendous sense. I support the BID fully.”
More than 340 towns and cities across Britain already have BIDs, including Penrith, where the BID has been a funder and supporter of the hugely popular Winter Droving festival, and other town centre events.
The Great Border City group is currently made up of stakeholders from such businesses as Armstrong Watson, Harrison Northern (Halston Group), West Walls Brewing Co, the University of Cumbria, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Tullie, and others.
The group has been canvassing opinion on what people feel needs to be done to make Carlisle even better, building on current successes, embracing its historical significance as a trading place and its heritage as a key regional city.
Business Improvement Districts are funded by a levy that creates a pot of money that in turn, supports new initiatives.
Kevin Beaty, co-director of The Great Border City group, said: “The BID won’t replace or pay for services that are already provided by Cumberland Council, it is vitally important that everything it does is additional.
“The aim is to bring people together to make Carlisle an even better place to live, work and recruit talent and thereby drive economic growth.”
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is backing the BID and is one of those represented on the Great Border City steering group.
Mr Beaty added: “I’ve spoken to around 300 businesses already and most are behind the BID.
“There’s been £450 million of Government investment in Carlisle, in projects such as the Southern Link Road, and the city centre improvements.
“There are already great ‘big’ businesses such as Pirelli, pladis (McVities), Lloyds and so many others as well as traditional local firms and a thriving evening offer, but there’s still a feeling that the city needs to do more to really achieve.
“The BID is one way to ensure that Carlisle reaches its full potential.
“It’s about civic pride. We want everyone to feel proud of their city. As Tom Piatak says, it’s about everyone acting like an owner.”
Fellow co-director Adrian Lochhead said the BID could help energise Carlisle.
“It has been so consistent when we ask people what they want that they want to see more activities and events, whether that be new street festivals, food festivals, more wall art, even a biscuit festival.
“The feedback has been that we need more things going on to give the city a lift and improve its image.
“The economic benefit of these things is much more than on the day. They encourage people to visit and stay in the city, they encourage people to want to live here and move here; that is what we see in other places, and that is what we want to replicate. I can’t wait to get on with delivering – starting next year.”
The BID’s manifesto has been published ahead of a launch event at Tullie on October 7 where businesses will be able to ask questions and hear from supporters of the plan.
A majority of city businesses need to vote in favour of the BID, in order for it to be established. A ballot of businesses opens on October 31. Businesses are urged to vote once ballot papers are received to ensure their vote is counted.
The BID must get the support of a majority of businesses by number and by rateable value. Only those with premises with a rateable value of £15,000 or more will be eligible to vote and only they will pay the levy.
The contribution has been worked out in the same way as the majority of BIDs, and seeking a contribution based on rateable value is broadly seen as the fairest way.
In Carlisle’s case this will be 1.58 per cent of rateable value in year one, with a cap on contributions for the larger institutions such as supermarkets and those with multiple sites.
Charities will receive a significant discount, and the levy will only be applied to premises with a rateable value of £15,000 or more, which will exclude around 75% of premises.
Eden Valley Hospice will be exempt, as will state schools. However, all businesses will benefit from the activity generated by the BID should it be successful.
The Great Border City – Carlisle Business Improvement District launch event takes place on October 7 at Tullie, Carlisle, from 5.30pm to 7pm
