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> The BID, what is it good for?
Sherlock
post Feb 19 2013, 11:09 AM
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I'm sure that having a Business Improvement District is a great idea but I'm not entirely sure why. They have a very nice website but it mainly seems to list events organised by other people and we had at least three websites which did that before we had the BID. Thoughts, anyone? http://www.newburybid.com/newbury-events.aspx
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JeffG
post Feb 19 2013, 11:38 AM
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There seems to be quite a bit more on that site than just listing events.
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Sherlock
post Feb 19 2013, 01:46 PM
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True, but apart from the BID rangers (who I've never spotted) it's not really clear what value the BID are adding. It's much more apparent from this http://www.winchesterbid.co.uk/ what the Winchester BID are doing and how they're measuring their efforts. Perhaps when Newbury has been up and running a bit longer we'll see a bit more.
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On the edge
post Feb 19 2013, 02:53 PM
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I suspect it has a lot to do with the local environment. Winchester people seem a lot more positive. Whenever anyone suggests any development or modernisation in Newbury there is immediate and vociferous and generally ungrounded opposition. For instance:-
- creating a better museum by replacing a 1930's ersatz extension,
- removing some time expired and pedestrian ceramic tiles from a not particularly significant shop front,
- complaining about 'nothing going on in Market Place, then complaining about advertising when it does
So I'm not at all surprised that those managing the BID will take their time and keep the wraps on things until they are good and ready. Down to us really.


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motormad
post Feb 19 2013, 04:12 PM
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People in Newbury? Negative, moaning people, not wanting anything to change?
tongue.gif


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Andy Capp
post Feb 19 2013, 04:58 PM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Feb 19 2013, 02:53 PM) *
I suspect it has a lot to do with the local environment. Winchester people seem a lot more positive. Whenever anyone suggests any development or modernisation in Newbury there is immediate and vociferous and generally ungrounded opposition. For instance:-
- creating a better museum by replacing a 1930's ersatz extension,
- removing some time expired and pedestrian ceramic tiles from a not particularly significant shop front,
- complaining about 'nothing going on in Market Place, then complaining about advertising when it does
So I'm not at all surprised that those managing the BID will take their time and keep the wraps on things until they are good and ready. Down to us really.

I think people like to see fair play and to feel their opinions are considered. Bearing in mind that I believe most people don't give stuff about anything other than the value of their house and their job.

With the museum, we were told what we were to have. Many complained about the design integrity. People could see it was a 'cheap option'. Cheap isn't always best.

It might have only been a set of tiles for some, to others it was a novel shop front that added a bit of colour to the vista. Notwithstanding they were removed without permission.

With the Market Place, which has cost ~£800,000.00 to repave, has seen a busy short stay car park, food vans and taxis removed, has been replaced with ... nothing, it seems. I think people can reasonably question what was all the effort for and was it good value.
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On the edge
post Feb 19 2013, 05:09 PM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 19 2013, 04:58 PM) *
I think people like to see fair play and to feel their opinions are considered. Bearing in mind that I believe most people don't give stuff about anything other than the value of their house and their job.
.....


That doesn't compute! If you don't give a stuff, you don't have an opinion?


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Andy Capp
post Feb 19 2013, 06:16 PM
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QUOTE (On the edge @ Feb 19 2013, 05:09 PM) *
That doesn't compute! If you don't give a stuff, you don't have an opinion?

I'm not on your wave length.

All I'm saying is that most people do not give a toss about what happens in Newbury, so long as it doesn't get in the way of their day to day business.The rest will be the people that do care, the 'vociferous' ones that care about the direction that our authorities take us.

QUOTE (On the edge @ Feb 19 2013, 02:53 PM) *
Whenever anyone suggests any development or modernisation in Newbury there is immediate and vociferous and generally ungrounded opposition.


The tone in your OP suggests that these people are little more than a nuisance. Perhaps they are, but if everything is not allowed to age (as in the old tiles on the Anchor Pub front), then we will have no history to speak of at all, and just look at the new buildings that have gone up in recent past that now blight our town scape, or once did! BT tower, Pearl House, New Cinema, 'elements' of Parkway, Newbury bus station, Kennet Shopping, Market St Council Offices, Tax Office, etc, ... I can think of few new builds in Newbury that we can be proud of.

Have you seen what the building looked like that the old Halfords (now Waterstones) replaced?
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Strafin
post Feb 19 2013, 07:43 PM
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A bid ranger came to my office today and asked who's rubbish was piled up around our locked bin. I said I didn't know and that's why we lock it. He then asked if we could get it cleared up, or unlock the bin so that other people could use it.
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motormad
post Feb 19 2013, 07:54 PM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Feb 19 2013, 06:16 PM) *
I'm not on your wave length.

All I'm saying is that most people do not give a toss about what happens in Newbury, so long as it doesn't get in the way of their day to day business.The rest will be the people that do care, the 'vociferous' ones that care about the direction that our authorities take us.



I think that's pretty fair to say smile.gif
The thing is those who are the vociferous type perhaps don't have "what's best" for Newbury in heart. It was an ageing town, it's Newbury not London, there's not really any history to it, it's a market town, which we have the Market Place. I see no reason why it can't be turned into a new, vibrant place to live - Currently it's a bit dingey to be honest.

A pretty building won't attract me to an area but you know what will? Fresh, clean and modern facilities with good shops and preferably free or very cheap parking.




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Simon Kirby
post Feb 19 2013, 08:09 PM
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QUOTE (Strafin @ Feb 19 2013, 07:43 PM) *
A bid ranger came to my office today and asked who's rubbish was piled up around our locked bin. I said I didn't know and that's why we lock it. He then asked if we could get it cleared up, or unlock the bin so that other people could use it.

A proper Ranger wouldn't need to ask.

"Chuck Norris doesn't flush the toilet, he scares the sh*t out of it."


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Andy Capp
post Feb 19 2013, 11:16 PM
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QUOTE (motormad @ Feb 19 2013, 07:54 PM) *
I think that's pretty fair to say smile.gif
The thing is those who are the vociferous type perhaps don't have "what's best" for Newbury in heart. It was an ageing town, it's Newbury not London, there's not really any history to it, it's a market town, which we have the Market Place. I see no reason why it can't be turned into a new, vibrant place to live - Currently it's a bit dingey to be honest.

A pretty building won't attract me to an area but you know what will? Fresh, clean and modern facilities with good shops and preferably free or very cheap parking.

You at least finished on a good note! wink.gif
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Andy Capp
post Feb 19 2013, 11:16 PM
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Ooops!
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blackdog
post Feb 20 2013, 02:06 AM
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QUOTE (motormad @ Feb 19 2013, 07:54 PM) *
The thing is those who are the vociferous type perhaps don't have "what's best" for Newbury in heart.

Of course they have 'what's best' for Newbury at heart - they just disagree with you on what's best for Newbury.


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Simon Kirby
post Feb 20 2013, 02:30 PM
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QUOTE (blackdog @ Feb 20 2013, 02:06 AM) *
Of course they have 'what's best' for Newbury at heart - they just disagree with you on what's best for Newbury.

You think?

Everyone acts out of self-interest. Mostly people object to change because they don't like change. Sometimes they don't like its aesthetic and they'll articulate their objection as "good for Newbury", but it's still only about what's good for them and their world-view. Even apparently self-less objection is still motivated by preserving that personal world view, enlightened self-interest is still self-interest - and yes, I hope I'd share that world view.

Of course some people are more determined than others at ordering the world according to their personal taste, and in Newbury there are a couple of routes to riding the establishment to get what you want.


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badmummajamma
post Feb 20 2013, 06:22 PM
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I can't help but feel that the BID's time would be far better spent lobbying landlords to offer good incentives for new businesses (or exciting pop-ups) to take up empty high-street units, rather than putting on superficial events or worrying about bins.

That and acting as a real pressure group against West Berkshire Council and its parking charges - which are the biggest threat to town centre viability. However, I get the impression that those involved with the BID, though undoubtedly well-meaning, are probably a bit too cosy with WBC for any of that.

Not that I'm speaking from a position of knowledge or anything - but I've lived in Newbs for quite a while now and really begrudge having to pay loads to park my car to look around not a lot of particularly interesting shops which are more expensive than the internet - so I'm sure other people do too.

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Andy Capp
post Feb 20 2013, 06:28 PM
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QUOTE (badmummajamma @ Feb 20 2013, 06:22 PM) *
Not that I'm speaking from a position of knowledge or anything - but I've lived in Newbs for quite a while now and really begrudge having to pay loads to park my car to look around not a lot of particularly interesting shops which are more expensive than the internet - so I'm sure other people do too.

Good post.
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dannyboy
post Feb 20 2013, 06:45 PM
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QUOTE (badmummajamma @ Feb 20 2013, 06:22 PM) *
I can't help but feel that the BID's time would be far better spent lobbying landlords to offer good incentives for new businesses (or exciting pop-ups) to take up empty high-street units, rather than putting on superficial events or worrying about bins.

That and acting as a real pressure group against West Berkshire Council and its parking charges - which are the biggest threat to town centre viability. However, I get the impression that those involved with the BID, though undoubtedly well-meaning, are probably a bit too cosy with WBC for any of that.

Not that I'm speaking from a position of knowledge or anything - but I've lived in Newbs for quite a while now and really begrudge having to pay loads to park my car to look around not a lot of particularly interesting shops which are more expensive than the internet - so I'm sure other people do too.

You can park for £5 all day in one car park, or get 2 hours free in 2 others in town.

Of course shops are more expensive than the internet - the overhead is that much more. It all depends on whether people want a town centre full of coffee & charity shops or not.
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On the edge
post Feb 20 2013, 08:34 PM
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Newbury does seem to be pulling more out of area shoppers these days, particularly those sick to death of the same old same old you get in the Malls at Basingstoke and Reading. They have a place! Some friends of ours who hadn't been to Newbury for about five years were really taken with Parkway, saying 'What a refreshing change, its not all shut in'. He drove us in and we parked behind the Museum, came back from paying chuckling at the low price, compared to his home town, Guildford. The only disappointment was the sparse market, far smaller than remembered.

Do people from Newbury ever travel themselves? If so, can we list the towns, of similar potential and ambience, where the parking charges are insignificant?


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blackdog
post Feb 21 2013, 10:28 AM
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QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Feb 20 2013, 02:30 PM) *
You think?

Everyone acts out of self-interest. Mostly people object to change because they don't like change. Sometimes they don't like its aesthetic and they'll articulate their objection as "good for Newbury", but it's still only about what's good for them and their world-view. Even apparently self-less objection is still motivated by preserving that personal world view, enlightened self-interest is still self-interest - and yes, I hope I'd share that world view.

Of course some people are more determined than others at ordering the world according to their personal taste, and in Newbury there are a couple of routes to riding the establishment to get what you want.

It seems to me that we are in agreement - everyone has a personal, self-interested view of 'what is best' for Newbury - unsurprisingly this leads to disagreements over what should or shouldn't be done.

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