Andrew Cooper column: Working together to help the high street

The high street has become a topical and political discussion point as our town and city centres are places that are changing. His response to the high street challenge was that “everybody has to come together and look at this.”

The challenge to us all as customers in this festive period is to consider our own shopping behaviours in how we support our own high street communities.

The butcher, baker and candlestick maker may have been replaced with new experiences and retailers, but ultimately it is the consumer that will determine the future, with the ‘use or lose it challenge’ pertinent for some struggling centres.

Leeds city centre is far from struggling; a city that is thriving and has a strong retail and leisure scene. We have seen a brand new JD Sports shop open on Briggate in the last month and Leeds boasts eight shopping centres plus numerous arcades, cinemas and leisure attractions, making it an ideal shopping location to get all those Christmas gifts while enjoying some festive hospitality.

With Trinity Leeds currently open for trade til 6pm on Sundays and with the new festive lodge and grotto outside Victoria Gate, there is something for everyone. With numerous car parks open daily and Park and Ride services running Monday – Saturday, some on Sunday too, Leeds has a compelling offer.

During this important trading period we have seen the business community, through LeedsBID, invest significantly into the festive look and feel of the city. A trail of Christmas trees including the standout tree on Briggate lit throughout the day and night, is making a real impact, alongside the ambience created by the lighting of Holy Trinity Church, The Queens Hotel, Park Square, Bond Court and areas of Sovereign Street.

Business Improvement Districts are one solution to bringing businesses together to make a real impact on the changing face of our High Streets. What we are witnessing across Yorkshire is the growth of Business Improvement Districts, with Bradford and Harrogate among the most recent. These are non-political, not for profit organisations charged with working collaboratively to improve the economic centre of our towns and cities. By coming together and working together we can start to shape and change our high streets and city centre places on which we all rely.

Only together can we work to solve these challenges and in Leeds, there is strong evidence at this Christmas time that this is happening.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all.

Andrew Cooper is the Chief Executive of LeedsBID (Business Improvement District).