Broad Street BID’s AGM held
The Broad Street Business Improvement District held its third Annual General Meeting last week and issued its Annual Report for 2008. As a first for the business this year’s Annual Report received an overhaul with a digital, interactive version being published.
The BID came into force in April 2005. At that time the area was coming under constant criticism, the publics perception of the area was negative, revolving around the binge drinking culture, high crime statistics, the problems caused by antisocial behaviour and the under current of Britain’s drug culture.
Since then Street Wardens, taxi marshals and BSafe officers from West Midlands Police have all been introduced onto the street, along with colourful floral displays brightening up the area and a year round cleaning programme. These run all year alongside a programme of events managed by the team and, of course, the Walk of Star’s that was launched with Ozzy Osbourne in July 2007.
Crime figures saw a massive initial drop of over 50% during the BID’s first year and have continued to steadily fall through the work of the BID and crime figures now stand at an all time low. The team of Street Wardens work in partnership with the door staff on the street, the BSafe officers and West Midlands Police to achieve the drastic results that have been seen to date.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hyde of West Midlands Police said “Keeping Broad Street safe is a true partnership between local businesses, police and most importantly the public who visit this excellent venue. To make it one of the safest entertainment venues in the country requires all partners to understand each other’s business and to work together for the common good. This approach is demonstrated in Broad Street by the local officers through B:Safe and their work with restaurants, bars, hotels and clubs, all focusing on making it a great experience for visitors.
Broad Street has a wide range of venues catering for all needs. We hope people visit, and enjoy themselves, knowing they are in one of the safest locations in the UK”.
The results of the BID’s efforts can be seen in the new positive perception of the area. This is backed up by the turnaround in the media perception of the street. Regular positive press coverage on both a regional and national level is now a regular attribute to the street. The 2008 customer survey of the street backed this up with 76% of visitors stating the street felt as safe or safer than 2007, and 84% of visitors stating that the street’s general appearance was good or excellence.
With new investment in the area over the last year, we have welcomed new venues such as O Bar, Edmunds and Gatecrasher over the last twelve months, and a £16m refurbishment of the Crowne Plaza hotel. With new tenants such as Deutsche Bank and Synergy setting up offices on Broad Street it isn’t only the entertainment sector that is booming.
Simon Raine, Managing Director of Gatecrasher UK added “Our investment in Birmingham and Gatecrasher is substantional and one which reflects our confidence both in the city and the upper Broad Street area and the local economy”.
On the back of all that has been achieved the Broad Street Business Improvement District looks to the future. Firstly with its involvement in the exciting Westside project being launched next month. Westside brings together the region’s major developers and Birmingham City Council working together in this strategic partnership which will promote this emerging business district and make Westside a key player in transforming Birmingham’s skyline. Discussions are also starting to decide how the BID could look to expand and spread its fantastic work to other areas.
