BID managers invited to Parliament

Business Improvement District (BID) managers from Falmouth and Truro have been invited to attend an All Party Parliamentary Town Centres Group meeting in Westminster later this month.

Sarah Newton, MP for Falmouth & Truro, has invited Falmouth BID manager Richard Wilcox, and his Truro counterpart Neil Scott, to attend the meeting at the Houses of Parliament on October 18, to discuss key issues in which Government-appointed high street advisor Mary Portas will also be present.

The invite follows the launch of Falmouth BID’s Save the High Street Campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the main areas that currently affect or inhibit economic growth in Falmouth.

The Falmouth BID is lobbying the Portas team, the Government and regional authorities, to recognise and initiate change on a number of key restrictions which it sees as affecting growth.

A letter sent to her and the Prime Minister centred around five key points, including the need for free or low cost car parking schemes; co-ordinated local public transport; and a call to cut VAT to 10% on retail/restaurants/hotels/tourism businesses.

Wilcox said: “The current trading environment is of course extremely challenging for all Falmouth businesses.

“But there are a number of current national and regional policies that need reviewing so that we can further stimulate local economic growth.

“I’m delighted that our Five Point Plan for the High Street has been recognised at such a key strategic level and I look forward to discussing the finer points of our proposals to Mary Portas and the Town Centres Group.”