PROJECT
TEN
ENHANCED RETAIL OFFERING
The current retail offering is good in parts,
but mediocre or non-existent elsewhere.
The community needs to review what it wants
from local shopping, or whether it wishes
to 'get in the car', If the latter the retail
future of Billingshurst faces a downward
spiral.
A
better spread of shops is required if Billingshurst
is to continue as a 'centre' for shopping.
With a need to enhance quality, we also
need to expand competitive offerings in
some areas. The research strongly details
the need for a second quality supermarket.
Research
Aims & Recommendations impacting on
the project:
-
Increase
the use of, and spend on, commercial
services (including shops, retail services
like hairdressers/travel agents and
cafes/restaurants) in Billingshurst
village centre by catchment residents
and users of non-commercial services
in the town.
- Increase
the number of recreational visitors who
come to Billingshurst and the surrounding
villages, and their spending on commercial
services and also improve the use of Billingshurst
village centre services by 'passing trade'.
- Build
local loyalty and commitment to Billingshurst
as a thriving centre for services, both
from residents, traders and businesses.
- Support
local businesses to grow, source locally
and trade with each other.
Actions
These actions are based on the recommendation
points in Appendix 2 of the
'Sustainable
Service Provision Report' as follows:
-
From
project 1
Galvanise support and commitment from traders
and landlords to a clear programme of action
for the village centre, using this research,
the emerging Chamber of Commerce and other
business groups as a stimulus.
Improve the quality of retail offer, attractiveness
of units and business quality through:
Training advice and support opportunities
with traditional retail
Improved shop windows and shop fronts
Better window advertising and on-street
advertising (e.g. highlighting local produce)
Local competitions/events with publicity
to encourage some of the above.
-
From
project 2
Target suitable quality, independent retailers
elsewhere.
Investigate scope for a community-owned/rented
shop offering small sales space to local
crafts people, etc.
Market Billingshurst Centre to catchment
residents:
Retail directory, accessed from relevant
websites, available in shops and distributed
to catchment residents.
PR/Information campaign with 'stories' to
support launch of above and promote centre
strengths - local, traditional service,
high quality retailers.
PR Campaign to use local information channels
(Parish Magazines, Web Sites etc) as well
as the local press.
Community shopping nights and promotions
linked to events.
Possible linked event with other market
towns in the area (for example through Five
Towns Partnership).
-
From
Project 3
Physical improvements to Billingshurst centre.
Better signage throughout centre,
eg indicating route to additional
parking, promoting retail offer and
other facilities.
Better
signage to centre -'welcome' and information
boards from bypass and entry routes,
at key attractions (eg new sports
centre, village hall, centre for children
and families and swimming pool).
Street scene and planting - review
options to differentiate and create
more of an impact, perhaps linked
to competitions like 'Britain in Bloom'
or eco/water-saving planting.
Address the issue of parking.
Provide for free (enforced) short-stay
parking close to shops to enable a
turnover of vacant spaces.
Clear signposting to Jengers Mead from library
car park.
Marketing campaign eg stressing fuel cost
savings of shopping locally against minimal
charges, Budgens delivery service, and 'carry
to car' services from retailers.
Short-term - encourage other retailers to
replicate Jim Hill Sports 20p back offer.
Visitor Package.
Investigate opportunities to define/develop
a local visitor offer which promotes
links and visits to local historic
sites, countryside, walking and
cycling, hospitality and village
centre retail.
Take account of, and link in with, other
promotional initiatives in the area.
Promote development of new walking and cycle
routes (perhaps linked to local cycle hire
and public transport.
Local food and produce.
Investigate
options to promote the area's local food
produce, involving Billingshurst and other
village shops, farm shops and producers
and crafts people.
Take
account of and link in with, other such
promotional initiatives in the area.
Billihub
Investigate
scope to define and develop a hub for local
service information and residents advice
which would meet a number of the needs which
might attract funding from LEADER and RASP
programmes. This might include and or enhance
and expand the new 'Billingshurst Children's
and Family Centre'.
Incorporate
elements of tourist/visitor information.
-
From
Project 4
Local business networks
Use
Chamber of Commerce to bring together local
businesses to encourage inter trading.
Promote
initiatives and opportunities like Horsham
District Council's Micro-biz to home and
small businesses through local communication
channels.
Share
the information with catchment residents
through village websites, local press, village
halls, churches, parish magazines, notice
boards, schools, surgeries and at the new
swimming pool complex.
Link
this to information about transport - community
transport and Billilinks.
-
From
Project 8
Follow through the Horsham District Council
plans to make Short-term parking for 'locals'
easier.
Ensure
arrangements completed to provide business
permit parking.
Encourage
Network Rail to expand the capacity of the
Station car park.
Consider
options for extra short-term parking in
the area of the station.
Review
options for the use of the Jubilee Fields
car park as 'long-stay' parking during the
week. (This will need to be considered in
conjunction with Project 9.)
Review
with the Parish Council use of the land
by the 'northern roundabout' as short-term
overflow and long-term parking
Other
Actions:
-
The
recent Retail Seminars (allied to the
mystery shopper campaign) were well
received and should be built upon
- In
conjunction with the Town Centre Manager,
Horsham District Council, we should establish
a programme aimed at encouraging more
quality shops into Billingshurst.
- Encourage
the use of local produce and the Farmers
Market.
- Talk
with Landlords and Agents with a view
to developing an agreed programme aimed
at filling empty shops.
Those
organisations addressing the above action
points
Estimated
cost of Project
Costs
of projects 1 trough 4 plus 8 @ 12,000(£159,000)
would form part of the costs of this project.
The
associated costs of action 5 trough 8 are
estimated at £10,000
