The Northwich Business Improvement District (BID) has outlined a series of projects that it plans to deliver in 2021 alongside key partners to boost the town and its businesses.
Many initiatives were understandably put on hold last year and, by collaborating with a number of town centre organisations, the BID wants to inject some positivity and hope into Northwich as restrictions ease over spring.
Once again they will team up with Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), Northwich Town Council (NTC), Barons Quay (BQ) and Rotary in Northwich (RIN) to give the town a springboard for recovery through a series of planned campaigns and projects.
These will of course still take into account COVID-19 considerations and there are no plans yet to re-introduce the seasonal Extravaganzas which have proved so popular in the past.
Activities have already kicked off with a Mother’s Day competition which linked in with businesses in the town centre to promote some of their services and products.
The BID team will also work with businesses on a ‘Northwich Sunflower Scheme’ to raise awareness of hidden disabilities as part of a town-centre wide approach to make Northwich even more welcoming and accessible to all visitors. Initial communications have been sent out by the BID and more details are to be announced in due course.
On top of this, Northwich BID has announced a number of campaigns to improve the aesthetics of parts of the town centre and to welcome back shoppers safely when restrictions ease.
Planting schemes and community projects will spearhead Northwich in Bloom with help from NTC and RIN, Weaver Square will be brightened up via the installation of vinyl coverings and new COVID-19 marketing materials will be developed for use on the high street and digitally.
Perhaps most excitingly of all, the BID is working with CWAC and NTC to develop and promote the new temporary space in the area that used to house Weaver Square’s outdoor market.
This landscaped recreational area will be a place for visitors to relax, socialise and enjoy food and drink in a safe, socially distanced manner. There is also scope for small-scale events to take place there in the future.
All of these plans will complement Northwich BID’s ongoing efforts to support businesses through the current pandemic which has seen them help their members access a range of government and Local Enterprise Partnership grants since the first lockdown last year.
Northwich BID Project Manager Adam Gerrard is cautiously optimistic about the year ahead and is looking forward to seeing the planned initiatives taking shape.
“We want to help create an environment for businesses in Northwich to hopefully bounce back strongly and also encourage people to return to the town to shop and spend local.
“2020 was difficult for everyone, especially our businesses, but thanks to their positivity and the community’s ongoing support we’ll have an opportunity to get the town on the road to recovery in 2021 and we’ll be doing all we can to try and make that happen.
“We want to try and ensure that the town as a whole is supported and we’ll continue to link in with our partners to achieve this as the year progresses.”
Head to the Visit Northwich Facebook page for updates.
