Harrogate BID's 'passion' to help town despite latest upheaval

Harrogate’s troubled Business Improvement District’s Board insists it has not been blown off course by last week’s surprise resignation of four members, and is determined to help the town get ready for the easing of lockdown.
"Focusing on making Harrogate a great place coming out of the coronavirus lockdown" - Harrogate Business Improvement District's new acting chair Sara Ferguson"Focusing on making Harrogate a great place coming out of the coronavirus lockdown" - Harrogate Business Improvement District's new acting chair Sara Ferguson
"Focusing on making Harrogate a great place coming out of the coronavirus lockdown" - Harrogate Business Improvement District's new acting chair Sara Ferguson

Interim manager Simon Kent said the board’s passion for Harrogate and its future prosperity was stronger than ever.

Mr Kent said: “The resignations came as a complete surprise to me but the pride in what Harrogate has to offer the world remains; the passion is still there, and we are working on projects investing significant amounts of money to boost the town centre’s economy.”

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He outlined ten key initiatives to the Harrogate Advertiser this week which included:

New guidelines from Harrogate BID to help businesses survive coronavirus lockdown and prepare for its relaxation;

Ensuring Harrogate’s Christmas lights this year are the best ever and the town centre is truly ‘a thing of wonder’for shoppers;

An intensive, deep clean of the town centre.

BID was first launched in early 2019 after a successful ballot and was meant to be a driver for economic growth.

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Its new acting chair Sara Ferguson said discussions on the board had always been honest and open and the priority was, and would remain, on supporting Harrogate.

She said: “We are disappointed that the new members of the board only lasted four months.

“But their departure has served to focus the rest of the board on the job at hand which is to make Harrogate a great place coming out of the coronavirus lockdown.”

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The resignations came from independent retailers Robert Kennedy, Robert Ogden, Rob Spencer and major commercial property owner Chris Bentley.

The latest shake-up to the Harrrogate BID board means it is the fourth line-up of members since Harrogate businesses voted to set it up by ballot in November 2018.

Ms Ferguson said BID would now be offering an immediate welcome to newcomers of any background to join the board as co-opted members for the moment.