Harrogate BID unveils new board and says 'our job has only just begun' in battle to support town centre

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As the number of spending days dwindle before Christmas the organisation funded by Harrogate businesses themselves to promote traders is turning its full firepower on supporting a town centre revival.

Harrogate Business Improvement District has come a long way since its troubled inception last year when it was criticised for not doing enough with the levy money raised from town centre businesses, introducing a string of concrete steps to boost footfall and the local economy in the last six months.

Yesterday, Thursday, saw Harrogate BID unveil its new board at its online AGM with the mission of building on recent initiatives such as “free after 3pm” car parking at Victoria Shopping Centre four days a week, free Sunday buses on three Harrogate Electrics routes and fantastic new Christmas lights in the town centre.

Five new board members were introduced.

They are: Bokmun Chan, Studley Hotel & Orchid Restaurant; Nick Hubbert, Hoopers; Jim Mossman, Cold Bath Brewing Co; Dan Siddle, Crown Hotel; and Lesley Wild, Bettys.

As they were the only members to stand for election, there was no requirement for a ballot.

Both Mr Mossman and Mrs Wild have been cop-opted members since the summer, but they have not been board members.

Current acting chair Sara Ferguson said: “The last 12 months has certainly had its ups and downs.

“However, we have weathered these storms and I’m very pleased and proud of what we achieved this year.

“Words have become actions and we are delivering the aims of our businesses plan. But our job has only just begun, and we still have a lot more to do."

It was also officially announced that Simon Kent will be standing down from his position as interim manager but will stay until a new manager has taken up their post.

Sara Ferguson said: “Our sights are now fixed on the coming 12, 24 and 36 months.

“I would like to thank all the board directors and our two co-opted members for their support, and look forward to working alongside the new Board over the coming 12 months.

“We have been extremely lucky to have had Simon Kent as our Interim BID Manager. He has been a tower of strength, and from day one got on with the job in hand.

"I’m delighted to say he’s agreed to stay with us until his successor has been found.”

The first job of the board at its inaugural meeting will be to elect a Chair and Deputy Chair.

The position of Harrogate BID Manager will be advertised on the Harrogate BID website in the next week via http://harrogatebid.co.uk/

The new Harrogate Bid board consists of the following members

Sharon Canavar, Harrogate International Festivals

Bokmun Chan, Studley Hotel & Orchid Restaurant

Sara Ferguson, Sasso & Caffe Marconi

Martin Gerrard, Barclays Bank

Nick Hubbert, Hoopers

Jim Mossman, Cold Bath Brewing Co

Dan Siddle, Crown Hotel

Andrea Thornborrow, Primark

Richard Wheeldon, Berwins

Lesley Wild, Bettys

Karl Battersby, North Yorkshire Country Council

Trevor Watson, Harrogate Borough Council

PC Alex Sellars, North Yorkshire Police

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