On Wednesday 10 April and Friday 12 April 2013, Sunderland City businesses were invited to attend one of two Workshops designed to review and prioritise the inspiring ideas for how a BID can play a vital role in accelerating the growth and revitalisation of our City Centre. The Workshops were attended by over 70 Sunderland business people.
The Workshops specifically focused on priorities for:
- Safety and security
- Events and marketing
- Cleaning and maintenance
- The evening economy
- Signage, access and communication
The feedback from the workshops and widespread consultation carried out over the last 6 months will influence and inform the Business Plan and budget allocation for the five-year term of the BID, which will become the formal proposal on which eligible ratepayers vote this summer.
Safety and security
Headline issues
- Perception of safety in Sunderland is far more negative than statistics would suggest.
- Lack of confidence in safety and security is exacerbated by the streets being quiet, particularly in back streets and after dark.
- The evening economy after 5pm is hampered by visitors and residents not feeling safe to move around the City Centre.
- Some public car parks subject to poor lighting and access problems.
- Low awareness of public transport offering, taxi availability and issues around safety, access and reliability.
- Issues related to drug and alcohol in some key areas of the City Centre – high fear of crime in Sunniside.
Priorities to consider
- Changing perception and increasing confidence in City Centre safety and security.
- More visible police presence and Street Ambassadors/Street Pastors.
- Rapid response team to deal quickly with any issues.
- Activities need to be joined up between venues, retailers and the police.
- Safety and security strengthened before and after key events.
- Better lit and accessible car parking for access to businesses.
- Taxi free phones.
- Additional taxi marshals and better positioning of taxi ranks including temporary ranks or pop up taxi stands around the City at busier times.
- More CCTV.
- Lobbying voice needed to influence decision making on safety and security.
Events and marketing
Headline issues
- Need to explore how City Centre businesses can capitalise more from existing events at major venues.
- Improve the way existing events are marketed and promoted in Sunderland, across the region and nationally.
- More events to attract families and older people.
- Better co-ordination with public transport to help access to events.
Priorities to consider
- A more co-ordinated programme of quality and sustainable events running throughout the year to attract and retain visitors to the City Centre.
- Work with Sunderland Live to improve organisation and reach of existing events to benefit local businesses, e.g. hold Christmas Lights switch on in the City Centre.
- Cultural food and drink events such as Restaurant Week or Park Food Festival involving local businesses and restaurants.
- High quality markets promoting Sunderland businesses and products.
- Fewer events with a bigger impact.
- Better marketing and promotion of a full timetable of events, including more use of social media and technology.
- Street events and activities, such as street theatre and licensed busking.
- Better co-ordination with public transport to help access to events.
- Organise supporting events in the City Centre to maximise concerts at the Stadium, encouraging audiences to stay in Sunderland longer.
- Explore introducing free parking for events.
Cleaning and maintenance
Headline issues
- Empty buildings and general dilapidation create an impression of a neglected City Centre.
- Tougher sanctions needed to tackle litter dropping, vandalism and other anti-social behaviour.
- City Centre needs brightening through more flowers and colour.
- Limited awareness of Council’s existing cleaning and maintenance services, such as the Helpline.
- More access to a rapid response clean team / vomit removal.
- Empty properties create visual problems and are not always well maintained causing damp in adjacent properties.
Priorities to consider
- More awareness of the Council’s existing services and how businesses can access rapid responses and support.
- Improve visibility and reward good behaviour by the public and businesses.
- Hold designated environmental/clean up days involving the public, businesses and city centre communities.
- Link into national activity such as Green One Day.
- Keep Sunderland clean campaign to change culture of dropping litter.
- Fixed penalties when offences are committed.
- Prevent fly tipping and fly posting.
- More recycling points, small bins and ashtrays.
- Introduce shop jackets and shutters in empty properties or closed premises.
- Address responsibilities of absent landlords, taking into account the impact on the tenant of landlord enforcement.
Evening economy
Headline issues
- A stronger evening economy is very dependent on other BID priorities – particularly safety and security and access.
- Capital investment programme needs better communication.
- Initiatives are needed to attract families in the early evening.
- More activity designed to increase the visitor dwell time and spend.
- Lobbying voice needed for businesses in the evening economy.
- Cost of parking in the evening can be a deterrent to visitors.
- Long walking distance between areas of the City Centre and difficulty moving people around the City, e.g. Bridges Shopping Centre closed in the evening which limits access.
- More coach parking needed.
Priorities to consider
- Vision for the City Centre –communicate the development plans for zoned areas of the City Centre.
- Create a wider offering for families and different age groups.
- Target professionals to stay in the City Centre after 5pm and introduce special offers for City Centre based workforces.
- Improve the lunch time offering.
- Free parking after 5pm, combined with late night shopping and restaurant offers.
- Encourage the use of public transport – buses and the Metro.
- Effective Marketing of the evening offer.
- Introduce new transport mediums for small journeys – eg tuk tuks, bicycles.
- Better links to events and Empire Theatre packages.
Signage, access and communication
Headline issues
- Current access and signage can be confusing for City Centre visitors to Sunderland.
- Signage needs to be de-cluttered, co-ordinated and branded to help visitors (pedestrians and motorists) find their way around the City.
- More guidance is also needed to help visitors and residents understand the City Centre attractions.
- Need better access to major stores with drop off points
- Need major improvements to Central Station.
- The current road network creates difficulty in accessing Central Station.
Priorities to consider
- Improved quality and consistent signage, prioritising the areas with the highest footfall.
- More signage in car parks to inform residents and visitors.
- Better sign posting of one-way systems.
- Develop a Map app for restaurants / pubs / general places of interest.
- Produce a free printed street map or City Centre guide.
- Produce a regular Events Guide.
- Install large maps and digital access points around the City Centre.
- Explore more innovative uses of technology and display to communicate.
- Access once the Bridges closes in the evening.
- Street Wardens to help direct visitors during events.