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Three businesses came out top in a Love Bedford customer service survey and were given their certificates at the Bedford Business Improvement District (BID) breakfast at The Park Inn on Wednesday February 21st. 

Baby and Play in Castle Quay, Nicholas Anthony in St Peter’s and Cash Converters at the Bus Station, all gained top marks in the secret sweep.

Kirstie Williams of Baby & Play with Graham Hill

They were presented with their prizes by Graham Hill of Shopper Anonymous and Sam Laycock Chair of the BedfordBID which commissioned major intercept study into town centre shopping habits.

Statistics show that Bedford continues to be beat the trend in terms of footfall compared to other town centres. For instance: Bedford’s footfall numbers rocketed in the last full week in January. Visitors are back in the town centre with a massive increase compared to the same period in 2017 with 2018 UP 8.8% in Bedford compared to a fall of 0.4% across UK

That last week (Jan 22nd - 28th) increase was fuelled by a massive surge on the January pay day weekend 

• Sunday up +40% 
• Friday up +24%
• and the biggest “actual” numbers still coming in on a Saturday.

Masterplanning

An opportunity to comment on the economic growth and property plans for the future of Bedford was given to those at the BID breakfast following presentations by the new Bedford Borough Council Chief Officers Paul Adams and Jon Shortland.  Changes proposed include upgrading the gateway to the town centre from the train station, and well as traffic flows from the Northern villages.

Partnership approach

A co-ordinated approach to give town centre beggars a hand UP not a hand out was announced by the new Bedford Homeless Partnership officer Sam Price. She told businesses that it was estimated nationally that 80% of beggars were not ‘homeless'.

Said Christina Rowe Director of the BedfordBID “Our breakfasts give businesses the chance to hear for themselves, first hand, from authorities who are working to make our town a better, cleaner, safer more vibrant place. These forums give our businesses a voice - there is no other organisation which offers that platform.”

Chair of BedfordBID Sam Laycock, with Steve McBrearty of Cash Convertors and Graham Hill