Bedford Town Centre is on the up when so many others are stumbling, reports the BedfordBID (Business Improvement District).

Visitor numbers to the town have risen upwards whilst others in the region and nationwide have stayed flat or been in decline.

The number of people counted walking in the High Street and other key locations in the town centre in November was up 10.2% in Bedford compared to the same period in 2013  - whereas elsewhere in the region visitor numbers had hardly improved (+0.6%) and nationally numbers were down (-3.9%).

During the week of the Christmas fireworks and lights switch-on, the number of visited rocketed upwards.

During the week of the switch-on, despite a staggering +23.5% growth last year, 2014 saw  a further +16% week on week and + 7.6% year on year growth. Compared to Bedford's figures the region's figures were just 0.7% and -3.3% respectively.

New businesses opening in November included Silvestr, Church Arcade; Froggy's Gifts, Clair Court;  Sainamika Harpur Street and Nefertiti, Lime Street.

Source of Statistics: The national high street index is a collaboration between Springboard Research Ltd and the Association of Town Centre Management to deliver a national performance index based on footfall in town and city centres.  Data for the High Street index has been gathered by Springboard from around 100 million pedestrian flows per month in around 140 UK towns and cities.  The data has been collated using Springboard’s Target Specific Tracking technology, which monitors footfall continuously – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The High Street Index results are calculated on the like-for-like basis, which allows for additional locations to include in the future.