The vote for BID is a great result
FINALLY, an opportunity for all to take part in Stockport’s future success and prosperity.
It’s great news that the Stockport BID has been voted for, but now the real work begins.
It will need to focus on the rebuilding of confidence from within the business community in the town centre and it will be great, for once, to have everyone working as a team with a common goal, the council and businesses together.
Altrincham Forward is 12 months ahead of Stockport in getting the BID voted in and getting on with sorting out challenges within their town centre.
Having had a depressed retail high street since the Trafford Centre opened, it is starting to see an increase in the take up of vacant units and office space.
Their revitalised and bustling market is an example of what can be achieved. Things need to change in Stockport in the same way. The town centre needs to be somewhere safe and welcoming, where families can come and also move around – shopping at the Peel Centre, then Merseyway and The Old Town.
With it’s character and history there is a great opportunity to create something different here.
But with big BID funding comes responsibility and good governance. The people running the BID need to have a proven track record of business and retail success and be capable of implementing and monitoring success. It’s a fantastic opportunity, so let’s get it right first time.