The 2008-9 Christmas Lights
The picture below highlights the display suspended across Frankfort gate in the west-end of Plymouth.
Over 300 lights were used to decorate the west end, ranging from complex changing graphics to illuminated trees.
The picture below highlights the display suspended across Frankfort gate in the west-end of Plymouth.
Over 300 lights were used to decorate the west end, ranging from complex changing graphics to illuminated trees.
The city centre falls within in an area defined as a business improvement district. Every shop within this area is forced to pay a BID levy as part of its rates. The money is intended to be used wholly to improve the BID area however sadly in Plymouth some argue this is not the case.
The new Drake Circus shopping mall is an example of how bid levy monies were diverted and funneled into free promotion and advertising for it. The christmas lights display in a perfect way how unfairly public BID funds are unfairly allocated. The distribution of the lights in many ways mirrors the distribution of the funds generally with the highest concentration of lights focused on the favored west end and Drake Circus shopping mall at the other end. To the right is an image taken from he entrance of the Armada shopping centre, which was given the benefit of one set of lights which were switched off throughout the entire xmas period.
Empty Streets.
Large parts of the local shopping community inside the city centre have been destroyed since the bid was introduced. Take a look at Mayflower Street with a whole row of empty shops formerly occupied by local businesses. Ask the former proprietors why they ceased trading and many will tell you because of the additional burden of paying a levy for which they saw no benefit or improvement.
The Independent Quarter
The PlymouthCityCentre company spent a vast amount on promoting a small section within the BID area called the Independent Quarter. Cornwall street is part of that area and throughout christmas it was decorated with over 100 lights. That area contains many fine shops such as Kentucky fried chicken, T-mobile, Argos superstore and many other fine 'local' retailers. Excluded from any benefit whatsoever are areas such as Royal Parade (80%local) Mayflower Street (97% local) Armada Way (30% local) and other areas such as the old and original drake circus (100% local). Nevertheless it is hoped in the near future that the Bid company will redress the balance and begin to promote for example the forgotten area of Mayflower Street.