BUSINESSES VOTE ON SCHEME TO TRANSFORM CAMDEN TOWN

1 March 2006

Businesses in Camden Town are expected this week to say ‘yes’ this week to a scheme that will fund a series of initiatives to make Camden Town safer, cleaner, greener.

Around 300 retail and commercial businesses in Camden Town - which is a world-renown centre for retail, music, fashion and media - are currently being polled on whether to set up a Business Improvement District (BID) that will raise business rates by one per cent. This money will be reinvested into improving the area. Results will be announced today, Wednesday 1 March.

Local businesses behind BID plan to raise around £500,000 a year, of which part will be contributed by Camden Council. This will fund measures for the area including extra security, more graffiti removal, a series of cultural events and steps to upgrade the urban environment and street scene and make the area greener.

The results of the poll will be declared at 3:30pm on Wednesday, 1 March, at Camden Lock by Christopher J Shaw, who is chair of Camden Town Unlimited (CTU). CTU is the trading name of the Camden Town BID company and has draw up the plan. The CTU board includes businesses, council members and the police.

Mr Shaw, CTU Vice Chair Alex Proud and CTU board members including Camden Council’s Executive Member for Equalities and Community Development, Cllr Theo Blackwell, and Executive Member for Community Safety, Cllr Jake Sumner, will then take part in a photo call to mark the occasion.

Mr Shaw said: “A “yes” vote is a mandate from businesses for an active programme for change. We will work with our partners to coordinate and improve the security, appearance and vitality of Camden Town.

“This is an historic opportunity to re-establish Camden Town’s prominence as a media, art, retail and business location and to energise the urban renaissance of this area in a wholly exceptional and dynamic context. “

Camden Council Deputy Leader and Member for Equalities and Community Development, Cllr Theo Blackwell, said: “Camden Council’s support for enterprise takes many forms but this is a great example of a scheme that's good for business and good for local people."

The Camden Town BID will be run by the businesses, in partnership with Camden Council and police, and is designed to boost trade and make the area safer and better for visitors, workers and residents alike. If the vote is yes, the new organisation will start on 1 April.

Measures that are being considered include:

• Extra security on the streets of Camden Town at peak periods on weekdays and weekends
  
• Extra graffiti removal services to be provided in partnership with Camden Council
  
• Annual national fashion and music events a year to help celebrate the success of Camden Town
  
• A property group to bring property owners and occupiers together in a forum to promote Camden Town

CTU last week won the prestigious Creating Quality Environments award from the Association Of Town Centre Management for an innovative underbridge and towpath lighting project alongside the canal in Camden Town.

The £250,000 Regent’s Canal Improvement Project brought together partners including the council, police, businesses, British Waterways, and local interest groups and significantly improved the quality of the environment, cutting criminal and anti-social behaviour on and around the canal. Details about the scheme will be published as part of the association’s London Good Practice Guide, which is supported by Government Office for London.

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