For the greater good: Epsom businesses working towards Business Improvement District

Owners of many of Epsom businesses – including Waitrose, Epsom Coaches, Epsom Racecourse, Atkins, Nuffield Health, Boots, Faradays, M&S, Wilko, Core Wellness, the Marquis of Granby, and the Ebbisham Centre – discussed the next step in creating a Business Improvement District (BID) in the town at the first meeting of the Epsom Town Business Partnership last week.

From November: "I want local residents to feel proud of their town centre" says new manager who wants Epsom to be bustling market town

A survey gathering information on businesses’ priorities for Epsom and their appetite for a BID is currently being run with a closing date in late September.

A formal ballot would then need to be held, and Epsom, Ewell and Stoneleigh town centres manager Alanna Coombes (pictured above) suggested this could take place next summer.

Lyn French (pictured above), owner of The Stitch Mouse in South Street, said: “For Epsom to thrive it's important that businesses come together as a community to identify what the town needs to become more attractive to shoppers and ultimately increase footfall across the whole town.”

Tony Cave (pictured above), manager of the Assembly Rooms (Wetherspoons) in the Market Place, said: “The market place is under used – it’s such a shame – we need more speciality markets to bring more people.”

James Bevan (pictured above), manager, Wilko in Epsom High Street, said: “We need weekend events so people spend longer in the town centre.

"Towns that have BIDs bring in professional entertainment, car shows, music festivals, food festivals, fun for kids – we’ve got to make a visit to Epsom more fun than internet shopping.”

Tara (pictured above), owner of So Lippy in Upper High Street, said: “I know people often say it, but Epsom has a lovely market town feel – so much better than clone towns of Sutton - but we’ve no proper brand and no real marketing of Epsom as a town centre.”

Anne Fowler (pictured above) of TWM Solicitors in the Market Place, said: “I want to attract the best staff to my business so I need Epsom to be seen as a great place to work. Creating a BID will help all businesses in the town to attract and retain good staff.”

From March: Would a business group improve Epsom town centre?

In March, about 30 businesses showed their approval, in principle, for the creation of an Epsom BID – a business-led, business-funded group formed to improve the town.

There are currently more than 200 BIDs across the country, with the UK’s first being set up in the neighbouring borough of Kingston.

In a bid local traders set up a business plan that defines a strategy to improve their town and pool funding towards their goal. Nationally, businesses in a BID pay an extra 1.4 per cent on top of their business rates.

Ms Coombes said gauging public opinion would be easier after this month’s survey had been carried out, but she is optimistic of getting approval for an Epsom BID.

She said: “There seemed to be lots of enthusiasm around the room so at the end of the event (in March) the host asked people to raise their hand if they thought businesses should move to what is the first stage of a BID process - to carry out a town centre survey to test businesses appetite for a BID.

“The response was unanimous – all raised their hands.”

In March, the following priorities were deemed most pressing:

• Better branding to promote Epsom’s heritage and association with the Epsom Derby and Epsom Salts

• Improved access to the town centre from Epsom station

• Clear signs to the town centre from Epsom station

• Zone 6 for Epsom so people can use Oyster cards to travel more easily

• A cleaner town

• Unique retailers to be attracted to the area

• To make parking better and cheaper

• To improve the transport network, so buses and trains run later

• More control for local people over use of town centre buildings

What do you think would improve Epsom town centre? Get in touch at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk