Making Largs a destination of choiceMaking Largs a destination of choice

ISSUE 1 MARCH 2012

INTRODUCING LARGS ‘BID’Business Led, Business Controlled

Have you receivedyour invite yet?

A BID is a business-led initiative where businesses work together and invest collectively to improve their own business environment. The crucial benefit of a BID is that the goals and actions are set by the business community for the benefit of the local business community. Projects are agreed after extensive consultation and the investment is spent locally, in local business for the local community.

Business-led

Local businesses take the lead in having a say and influence on those issues we believe are important.

Business funded

Businesses invest in the BID through an amount set by the Steering group on a fair and equitable basis. The BID would seek to lever in more funding from other sources beyond business contributions.

Independent

Act in the interests of the Largs business community, delivering services and projects as well as planning for the future welfare of Largs in partnership with local and national authorities.

THE LARGS BID WILL BE :

LARGS VISITOR SPEND

HELP US TO HELP YOU! STEP FORWARD

Peter ValerioLargs Hardwareand Chairman

of “Largs Matters”

Sunil VaruProject Manager“Largs Matters”

Already the BID process made

some progress with businesses

being more open about what

THEY believe should happen in

this town. I am confident that

the BID could help build a

better future for our town but

we need support from every

quarter to make it happen

otherwise there can be no

cause for complaint from

anyone about the lack of action.

Get involved, take an interest

and help us to help you!

The opportunity given to

businesses through the

BID process has been

generally welcomed.

Now comes the time for

the rest of the business

community to step

forward and make their

views known to us. We

want businesses to be continually involved

and many of these issues will be

prioritised and formalised into a Business

Plan in the Summer. Find out how at the

Networking meeting on 14th March!

Where else have they got a BID in Scotland?

There are 11 BIDs already operating in Scotland while another 15 are in a similar position as Largs in trying to develop one

Established BIDs

Enterprising Bathgate

Clacksfirst Limited

Essential Edinburgh

Falkirk Delivers

Inverness

Alloa

Dunfermline Delivers

Embrace Elgin

Kirkcaldy4All

I Love Clarkston

Aberdeen City Centre

BIDs in Development

Largs Matters

Inverness Tourism BID

Dundee City Centre

Kirkwall

Lerwick

Penicuik

Queensferry Ambition

BID4Oban

PA23 (Dunoon)

Edinburgh West End

Edinburgh Grassmarket

Giffnock

Stranraer

Mull and Iona

Carluke

Hamilton

You can view all BIDs atwww. bids-scotland.com

YOU CANHELP SHAPE

THE FUTURE

OF LARGSTHE BUSINESSES OF LARGS ARE GETTING TOGETHER

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. DON’T BE LEFT OUT >

Making Largs

a destination

of choice

Making Largs

a destination

of choice

MORE DETAILS INSIDE

Sailing tourism is big business - are you taking advantage of it?

Hello Sailors!Scotland's strong sailing product is spending visitors looking for more already delivering a large number of authentic experiences and are keen to visitors to our shores, but are we making sample local produce. Others may the most of this incoming business and combine a sailing trip with golf, wildlife-building on it? The value of the sailing watching or photography, mixing their market in Scotland is currently love of sailing with a taste of the “real” estimated at between £270m and Scotland. And don't forget their partners £300m. Current tourism trends are or crew who like to shop and to visit attracting a whole new audience of high attractions!

Source : “Sailing Tourism in Scotland”, Tourism Intelligence Scotland (2011)

AREA RESIDENTBERTHS

VISITORBERTHS TOTAL

Clyde &West Coast

£34m(52% of total)

£65m

£10m(28% of total)

£36m

£44m(44% of total)

£101mScotland total

In terms of Visitor Spend, Largs is extremely well placedto capture this as part of the Clyde area.

A Sailing Tourism workshop is due to take thplace at Largs Yacht Haven on 13 March

2012 which will help local businesses capitalise on this revenue generator. More to follow in the next Newsletter.

March 24, 25 Royal Yacht Association (RYA) Spring Championships

June 9/10 Topper Nationwide

June 16/17 International Racing Certificate (IRC) Scottish Championships

June 25 – 4 July 470 Europeans (the only pre-Olympic event in Scotland)

20 – 23 July Flying Fifteen Nationals

Aug 25 – Sept 2 Clydeport Largs Regatta Week

KEY SAILINGEVENTS IN LARGSLet’s make them all welcome!

For further information visit

or phone 01475 675333www.yachthavens.com/largs “Largs has so far managed to avoid

the problems that other, similar sized towns have been going through, but it’s only a matter of time before it happens, unless we do something collectively now.”

ScottMcGregor

“Largs is a great place to live and work, and I believe the BID will be an opportunity for us to move forward as a community and invest, improve and promote our town as a great place to visit and enjoy”.

AnneDickie

Jan De VriesHealth andDiet Centreand memberof theSteering Group

“The Largs BID is a great opportunity for Largs to enhance cooperation and community spirit within the community. It provides a focus for business and the general population to come together to improve so many aspects of the town."

AlexGallagher

Councillorand memberof theSteeringGroup

LPCDesign + Printand memberof theSteering Group

D E S I G N + P R I N T

LPCwww.largsprinting.co.ukTel: 01475 675203 | Email: info@largsprinting.co.uk

Designed and printed by LPC design + print120 Main Street | Largs | Ayrshire | Scotland | KA30 8JN

Largs Mattersc/o Largs and MillportInformation Bureau88 Main Street

Email: info@largsmatters.comTel: 07858 615690

Largs Matters thanks North Ayrshire Council and Scottish Governmentfor their support of Largs Business Improvement District

What have 80+ businesses said so far?

BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT

Sunil Varu, the Project Manager, has been made to him which he will outline invested a lot of time conducting a at the first Business Networking meeting detailed set of face-to-face interviews which “Largs Matters” is organising on

thwith over 80 businesses throughout 14 March 2012 at the Brisbane House Largs – from Largs Yacht Haven to Hotel. Come and find out what's been W i l l o w b a n k H o t e l – s i n c e h i s said and where the BID could potentially appointment in November 2011. Many take Largs with YOUR SUPPORT.interesting and valid comments have

Toni DawsonSugar & Spice and

member of theSteering Group

“At last! A way in which the business community of Largs can move forward as one voice to put this town on the map and show the visitors that Largs really is the jewel in the crown of North Ayrshire”.

Alan HillCouncillor andmember of theSteering Group

“I am pleased to be working with BIDS in their attempt to bring about much needed improvements to our town centre. I would urge local businesses to put their weight behind this project”.

YOU CANHELP SHAPETHE FUTUREOF LARGSTHE BUSINESSES OF LARGS ARE GETTING TOGETHER

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. DON’T BE LEFT OUT >

Making Largs

a destination

of choice

Making Largs

a destination

of choice

Invitations have already been sent to businesses across Largs to attend the first Networking meeting. Come and find out what “Largs Matters” is doing and who is leading this Business-led initiative at the first Networking meeting which will

thbe held at the Brisbane House Hotel on Wednesday 14 March at 6pm until 7.30pm.

Find out what your fellow businesses have saidFind out what your customers think of Largs, what are THEIR issues?Find out what the BID group are focussing on.

l 

l 

l 

Meet the Steering Groupand find out moreWhat Next?

Put the date in your diary!

Ever wondered how good the CCTV cameras are and what they do for Largs? Well, “Largs Matters” has worked with Inspector Andy Clark of Strathclyde Police to create a fantastic opportunity allowing 30 Largs businesses to visit the CCTV Centre in Saltcoats. See for yourself the capability of the cameras from the view of the camera operators and how the CCTV system is working to reduce crime levels and how it offers the level of community safety we enjoy.

The initial visits are open to 15 Largs businesses each evening :th1. Tuesday 20 March 2012 at 7pm until 8pm

nd2. Thursday 22 March 2012 at 7pm until 8pm

Priority will be given to those who attend the Networking meeting but register your interest now with Sunil Varu on info@largsmatters.com.

Please note - for Data Protection purposes only those registeredwill be allowed to undertake the visit.

Visits to CCTV Centre in Saltcoatsfor Largs Businesses

Inspector Andy Clark

We wish them

every success

Welcome to some new businesses who have

shown real confidence in Largs recently:

EDENGallowgate Square

DUONelson Street

TIMPSON/MAX SPIELMANN

Main Street

PIECE OF CAKEMain Street

THE TOY STATIONMain Street

ROWAN MOONTron Place

M & J TIMBER SUPPLIESMain Street

ROSE OF SHARONNelson Street

NEW KIDSON THE BLOCK

1. More car parking for Largs. At long last, the much talked about demolition of the Stevenston Institute building is happening and Largs will get an extra 65 car parking spaces this summer. A welcome addition for Largs!

2. A long term vision for Largs? A BID would sit at the top table and represent the business interest in any discussion which North Ayrshire Council will have.

3. Pavements upgrade due to start on 12th MarchTransport Scotland is to carry out the much needed upgrade of the pavements from Subway to the Bellman’s Close junction with Main Street in March/April. Not before time! “Largs Matters” has asked Transport Scotland to avoid the busy Easter fortnight and to set up a Business Liaison group for when the work does start in order that the business voice is heard directly with the contractor.

What’s Happening Around Town?

While the TIC operates for the main tourist season, Largs Information Bureau operates all year round from its Main street premises with volunteers from the local community, and is a great source of information for locals and visitors. In 2010, they dealt with over 10,900 enquiries from members of the public.

Congratulations to Largs café, Gypsy Cream which won the prestigious “Soup of the Year 2012” award in January 2012 from the Good Soup Guide. Owners James and Linda Kerr were obviously delighted and which has helped to put Largs on the map. Two of our town's other cafes were also contenders, “Tradewinds” and “Nardini's”, which shows how highly regarded Largs is in such circles.

Room was runner-up for the “Family Restaurant of the Year” in the prestigious “Restaurants of the Year” awards 2012 held in Glasgow in February 2 0 1 2 . O w n e r S te p h e n M c D o n a l d wa s disappointed not to have won but stated “Out of 4,000 entrants, to be runner-up against a major outfit like the Auchrannie Hotel is no mean achievement. It’s down to the high standards we aspire to, which can only be good for Largs”.

ON THE MOVE DID YOU KNOW?The VisitScotland Information Centre at the Railway Station will be replaced by a new VisitScotland Information Point in Partnership at the St. Columba's Heritage Centre

ston 1 April 2012. The Heritage Centre attracts around four times the annual footfall of the existing Largs VisitScotland Information Centre. As part of this new partnership, there will be a special open day to show off the new facilities and expertise. Annique Armstrong, VisitScotland Regional Director, stated, “This is a positive change to information provision in Largs. Opening of the new Information Point in Partnership will allow VisitScotland to offer information provision over a longer period during the season and to a much wider audience”.

Largs Mobi l i ty Centre has relocated from Aitken Street into larger premises in Bath Street.

“A successful BID will help to secure a better future for both the business community and their customers by working together to enhance facilities and also making Largs a destination of choice for tourists”.

“Trading conditions in Scotland are the worst I have experienced in 30 years as a Hotelier, but there are some world class events that will put Scotland on a Global stage including Homecoming Scotland 2014, Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Every community will be thinking “opportunity” and unless Largs has a united strategy of delivering the right product, to the right markets with excellent customer service delivered by well trained staff in Largs, others will benefit!! I believe the BID is the opportunity for Largs to have a brighter future”.

“Largs Businesses now have the opportunity to join forces to avert further decline and conversely breathe life into the fabric of the town and annual programme of events”.

Willie Wood StephenMcDonaldThe Woodhouse

Hotel andmember ofthe Steering

Group

Lounge/Room and member of the

Steering Group

Susan CraddockLargs Post Office and member of the Steering Group

Ron MuirVice Chairman

of theSteering Group

“Largs is the gem of North Ayrshire, it’s a tourist town which needs upgrading and the BID will help in that process”.

ElisabetheMarshall

Councillor andmember of theSteering Group

“The BID gives businesses in Largs the chance to put forward our own ideas about what we want for the improvement of Largs and actually do something about it”.

RichardCraigmile

Craigmiles andmember of theSteering Group

"I truly believe the BID project presents a unique opportunity for the business community of Largs to work together and to make a real difference in our town".

“Forming a BID for Largs would enable businesses to work together for our benefit and that of the local economy”.

AlanNielson

IBAC andmember of theSteering Group