Bournemouth's Christmas trade 'disappointing' (From Bournemouth Echo)

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  The Seasider wrote:
  

  The Seasider wrote:
  My thoughts are:
  
  The BID is worth it, and will probably be the best thing to revive shopping areas. A statutory levy, money in the kitty and putting on events is the future.
  
  Footfall figures may indicate 'busy-ness' of an area, but how many people are actually carrying shopping bags?
  
  The ice-rink was a good idea, and should be repeated next year. I would suggest the town centre management and BID work towards achieving the following:
  
  1. FREE PARKING. Will the penny ever drop? Even reintroducing free on-street 1 hour parking back to the Town Hall area will help.
  
  2. RENTS - write to all landlords who own shops that have been empty for more than 6 months (via their agents if necessary) and ask them to consider dropping the asking rents. Do the research and make a case.
  
  3. RATES- Consider if the Localism Act allows a reduction in business rates. If it does- then slash the business rates multiplier from about 0.45 to 0.2. for new business occupiers. At the same time DOUBLE the rates for landlords sitting on empty premises from 0.45 to 0.9 or 1.0. And then advertise it: "HALF PRICE BUSINESS RATES FOR 3 YEARS FOR ALL NEW BUSINESSES OPENED IN 2013 ".
  
  4. Write to all the businesses that set up shop in Shaftesbury, Wimborne, Exeter, Winchester etc. but are not in Bournemouth/ Poole? Ask them why? See if they can be persuaded.
  
  5. EVENTS. Consider aiming for at least 2 well managed events EVERY month of the year.
  
  Consider;
  Dorset Music Festival, a Jazz and Folk festival, a Go-Kart Grand-Prix race around town, a ‘Robot-Wars Championship in the Square’, an Archery tournament in the Lower Gardens, a Charity Rubber Duck Race in the Bourne Stream, a Dorset and Hampshire Arts and Crafts Exhibition (with FREE exhibition stall space set aside for legitimate local based crafts people to display wares), a ‘Wipe-Out’ style water and inflatable assault cause in the gardens over Summer, a Street/ Hip-Hop and Urban Culture event celebrating dance, music and art, a Wessex Region Food Festival, perhaps 4 big annual parades; a New Years Day Parade, a Gay Pride Parade/ event, a Summer Spectacular Parade, and a Christmas Santa Parade.
  
  Parades should be a spectacle, having ideally at least 3 marching bands/ sound systems at the beginning, middle and end. Also consider getting the huge inflatables that you see in US parades, plus household name celebrities to sign autographs, and floats from big employers handing our freebies/ vouchers/ coupons. Alson consider the costumes... has anybody been to the Sambadrome in Rio for the carnival(?).. it is easily the best show on Earth. The energy, the music, the costumes, you cant help but be stunned by it all. THIS pzazz, and dazzling razzmatazz is what Bournemouth must aim for if it really wants to become Britains Best Resort.
  
  Can I also suggest with the Christmas Parade, which was good last year, but could be much better to have; a dozen or more reindeer, a 'pre-Coke' Santa, (ie a multi-coloured traditional image of Father Christmas), three Kings carrying gifts, more choirs singing carols, perhaps ask local schools if they want to take part. They could be in costume as Elves or reindeer etc. Plus all the big retailers and BID should be involved, even handing out discount vouchers etc. Some local charities could join in with collection boxes.
  
  The Christmas market and christmas lights needs huge improvement. Just see how Bath does it. There are some really excellent markets about, get organised now to make improvements for this coming Christmas.
  
  Oh, and Poole traders... wakey wakey! Bournemouth has 2 BIDs, plus Wimborne has BID, so does Dorchester, and Winchester traders hae just voted to keep their BID. This is the ONLY way to raise enough revenue to make things happen! So get organised and make it happen!

  ...assault 'course'... not 'cause'... !

  No comment or reply on the content of the post or just some snide spelling correcting?"
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