Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) is in the process of carrying out its big BID Spring Clean as it gears up for the next stage out of lockdown. Working with external agencies, the not-for-profit organisation has identified the gaps that exist in current statutory obligations and sought to plug these as well as embellish the provision of cleanliness works through adding additional service elements. It has proactively taken the lead on organising and funding graffiti and sticker removals, sign washing (new for this year) and business frontage cleaning, including windows, external signage and gutters, all of which solely funded by the BID.

Falling under the remit of Newquay BID’s ‘Cleaner, Greener, Safer’ activity strand within its new five-year business plan, the team has organised and funded several cleansing schemes across the length and breadth of the town. Using only local suppliers and contractors, works are being carried out right now prior to step three of the Government’s re-opening plan on May 17^th.

On May 17^th, all being well, most businesses will be able to reopen with Covid-secure guidelines in place, including indoor hospitality, indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas and children’s play areas and the rest of the accommodation sector such as hotels. This will have a substantial impact on Newquay as many of the town’s businesses fall under these categories. All Newquay-BID levy-paying businesses have the option to request a clean but some of those that have already taken up the offer include leisure centre, Waterworld, Newquay Trampoline Park and Play Park, fashion and haberdashery shop, Fat Giraffe, sporting goods store, True Newquay, Johnny’s Tobacconist and jewellers, Cornish Stone.

Amelia Kitchen, GLL Senior General Manager, operators of Waterworld Newquay and Newquay Trampoline Park said, “We are delighted to be back at Newquay Waterworld and are very excited for the reopening of the Trampoline and Play Park in May. We took up the offer of having graffiti removed from our premises via the Newquay BID project so we are looking extra presentable in time for the peak season. It’s been fantastic to welcome our staff and customers back to enjoy their daily dose of exercise safely, it means so much to so many people after an extended lockdown period. We are very much looking forward to what we hope will be a successful summer as we start to rebuild our business.”

Jackie Glanville of Cornish Stone Company said, “We are really pleased to be having a freshen up courtesy of Newquay BID prior to the next stage of the lockdown restrictions lifting. I have requested my marble and blinds be cleaned extensively as these are areas which I cannot get at myself! We were fortunate to be able to reopen recently and are currently operating from 10am – 4pm daily. It’s been a tough period for everyone so it is nice to see things moving again and Newquay safely returning to some level of normality.”

Katie Stewart of Fat Giraffe said, “It feels great to be open again and the town has a real buzz about it. With more tourists set to come over the next few weeks, it is important to ensure it is clean, tidy and presentable so it has that wow factor for visitors – this is why we were keen to have our premises cleansed via the Newquay BID project. Since we have reopened, there has been a lovely response. As small businesses, we really need to see local support like this continuing so we are able to service the community and keep employing the staff that we do. We would like to thank everyone for their support thus far including Newquay BID.”

Carla-Marie Jones, Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) Manager, said, “We are gearing up for a very busy season as we enter the next phase of the roadmap out of lockdown, with Newquay and Cornwall looking set for a bumper season. Thus, the town needs a refresh to make sure it is looking its best for the influx of visitors, particularly as town cleanliness has been largely neglected through 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year we are trialling some new initiatives alongside our usual provision, such as the shop frontage cleansing option which we have never done before, which has had such a positive response to date. We wanted to be able to offer businesses as much support as we can throughout re-opening, this project is hoped to be something tangible and useful for businesses.’

Carla continued, “In order for our supplier to carry out a shop frontage clean, we do require permission from the business owner or occupier of the property. Therefore, we have allocated seven days for these works and spaces for which will be offered out on a first come, first serve basis. The contractor can complete up to 30 businesses per day (depending on size of scale of each job), allowing us to offer these works to over 200 businesses initially. It is imperative for interested businesses to send their full business name, address including post code, along with an image of the front of their premises, that shows the size of window and signage, along with height of guttering to ensure your business is added to the list prior to May 4th. We hope more businesses seize this opportunity. If successful, we would look to make this a bi-annual offering for businesses so they can keep shining all year round.”

In order to fulfil the scale of cleansing works and maximise the opportunity this year, the BID team has extended the working days for each cleansing activity so all areas within the BID boundary can be covered even more extensively. In addition, it will look to undertake similar cleansing works later in the year so Newquay looks well-loved and cared-for all year round, not just during the peak season months.

For further information on the Big BID Spring Clean project or any of Newquay BID’s future work, please email info@newquaybid.co.uk or visit the website at: https://www.newquaybid.co.uk/.