- Truro’s profile as Cornwall’s main retail centre cannot be taken for granted. With a potential catchment area of 400,000 people as well as an additional target audience of 4.4 million annual tourists to Cornwall, BID funds will invest in the activities that will help to attract new customers and help prevent trade being lost to competing centres.
- A Truro BID is fair with every business paying a modest amount but together, those contributions combine to create a sound and powerful investment. There will be no freeloaders. If you are a regular contributor to initiatives like Christmas lights, you may even save money.
- If you vote ‘yes’ then the funds generated from the levy will top £1.2 million but it doesn’t end there. The money accumulated through the levy will be used to lever in more funding. 19% of the BID's projected income will come from public sector agencies, grant bodies and landlords during the 5 year lifetime of the BID. This is funding that will only be available if the BID proceeds.
- Carrick District Council, Truro City Council and Cornwall County Council are committed to the principle of the Truro BID. What’s more, they have already put considerable resources into its development and are committed to working in partnership with Totally Truro, where appropriate, to deliver the programme.
- You have invested your time, energy and hard earned cash in locating your business in Truro. We want you to make the most of your investment. A Truro BID will give you influence over your trading environment tackling the issues that may be preventing your business from realising its potential.
- A Truro BID puts you in control – you have already told us what Truro needs and when. If the BID succeeds, you will have a voice through the Totally Truro Board, an independent limited company responsible for delivering the programme. Once appointed, the BIDs manager will be working for you, in Truro and easily accessible.
And if I vote no….
Well, let’s be honest, if the BID doesn’t proceed Truro won’t fall apart, but it won’t realise its full potential either. That’s a great pity and a missed opportunity.
Truro may struggle to sustain its current level of business given competition from other centres and from other shopping trends such as the internet. And without a concerted marketing campaign, Truro is unlikely to attract new custom.
Nothing will be done to promote specialist shops, an asset that all businesses have told us is a big draw for Truro and one of the aspects most liked about the City.
Christmas 2007 may prove the hardest challenge yet, just to sustain what has been provided previously. There certainly won’t be anything new, exciting or comparable with other capital cities. With no alternative funding currently identified, the risk of another ‘no lights’ Christmas like the one experienced in December 2005 is a distinct possibility.
Improvements such as new lighting, signage or planting will not happen with the opportunity to make a great visual impact lost.
And finally, existing agencies will continue to run Truro for you but you will not have a strong ‘voice’ through a private sector led organisation set up solely to represent your interests.