St Peters Quarter Businesses Join Tidy Up Event

St Peters Quarter Businesses Join Tidy Up Event

More than 20 representatives of businesses in Derby’s St Peters Quarter Business Improvement District (BID) took part in an early-morning litter pick around the area to highlight their commitment to keeping to area tidy.

The Business Tidy event was the first under the new St Peters Quarter five-year BID programme which includes activities to improve the environment and visitor experience in the area.

Teams from a number of businesses including Costa Coffee, McDonalds, Greggs, Carnero Lounge, Lloyds Bank. John M Lewis, NCP , Subway and Tesco headed out onto the streets with litter pickers and black bags to provide additional cleaning of the area.

They worked alongside the Streetpride team to pick up litter – focusing on Green Lane, the Spot, East Street, Thorntree Lane and St Peter’s Street.

St Peters Quarter Board member Julie Rock, who is Practice Manager at John M Lewis conveyancing firm in St Peter’s Street, said: “I think one of our key challenges under the new BID programme is to educate people – both businesses and the public – that we all need to have much more pride in the city centre and play our own part in keeping the streets clean.”

Fellow Board member Richard Bradbury from NCP added: “Streetpride do a great job keeping the area tidy but we need to do our bit as local businesses.

“The biggest challenge has been to pick up literally hundreds of cigarette ends off the pavement.  If people used bins provided, it would make a huge difference to how the streets look in this part of the city centre.”

The team were met at the end of the project by the Mayor of Derby Cllr John Whitby who said: “The businesses have done a great job and I am sure that visitors to the area can see the positive impact that the new BID programme is already achieving.

“It is great to see the Rangers back in the area and the street entertainment programme has been fantastic so far.”

Business Tidy Days were held regularly during the previous five-year BID programme and have been re-introduced as part of the business plan which was voted in by businesses for the new BID which launched on April 1.

Helen Wathall is chair of the St Peters Quarter Board and Managing Director of G Wathall & Son funeral directors in Macklin Street.

She concluded: “The Business Tidy events were a valuable part of the previous St Peters Quarter BID programme and I am delighted that they have been re-introduced.

“Local businesses made it clear during the consultation for the re-ballot that if we get the environment right in terms of the streetscape and keeping the area clean and tidy - then visitors will naturally come into and, more importantly, stay in the area. 

“This is also a perfect example of how the BID can work in partnership with statutory organisations such as Streetpride to maximise resources, share information and make a positive impact on the local business community.”

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