The festive season is fast approaching, and not long now until Acocks Green Village is lit up by Christmas Lights.  On Saturday 17th November is the big Switch On but also there will be a Farmers Market and Arts & Crafts Fair of local handmade gifts. Click on flyer below for all the details.  There are also still a few opportunites for local crafts people to have a special rate market stall – just £15 for the day. If you are interested then contact the BID Manager : agvbidinfo@gmail.com or visit the website: www.acocksgreenbid.com

 

See you there!

The Acocks Green Business Improvement District team (BID) are running a Photographic Competition with prizes being awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The team are in the process of creating a new website for the Village and thought what a good idea it would be to hold a competition for people to enter so that they could take interesting photos of Acocks Green that will go on to feature to the BID website and other promotional material.

photo: Acocks Green Village Facebook page

The brief is to capture the essence of Acocks Green in photographs, and be as clever and imaginative as you like!  The Neighbourhod Forum thinks this is a great opportunity to get people along to the village to have a look at what we have to offer, and to be in with a chance of winning a prize.
All images should be submitted in JPEG format and emailed to agvbidinfo@gmail.com or postal address: Acocks Green BID, Office 10 Dolphin Court, 1227-1231 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, B27 6PX
The closing date for entries is 12 noon on 16th November, and the winners will be announced ‘on stage’ at the Acocks Green Christmas Lights Switch-on event on Saturday 17th November.
Please note, entries cannot include images of children, and the BID reserves the right to use all images submitted for judging in its promotional materials and website.
So get your cameras out and good luck!

*******UPDATE**********The Village in Bloom judges are in Acocks Green this Thursday 26th July. The tireless, enthusiastic and green-fingered Fran Lee and other volunteers have been working hard to make Acocks Green look more colourful and tidy. Look out for them in their High Viz jackets and if you have any spare time to help then just have a word with them or contact Fran on the number below. This is an ongoing project to make our village a more pleasant environment to shop, work and live.

Acocks Green Village has been entered into the Urban category of Britain in Bloom, with the full support of Sandy Gianni our BID (Business Improvement District) Manager.

Nowadays Britain in Bloom is not just about flowers.  One important factor is the community element.  This project is bringing together The Council, Residents’ Associations and volunteers in general who understand the need to enhance our village to ensure that it is a pleasant place in which to do their shopping.  Entrants into ‘In Bloom’ tell us that part of the enjoyment is meeting like-minded people with civic pride.

Fran Lee and other volunteers working hard to clear weeds

Another very important element is Environment Responsibility.  The council along with Amey have undertaken to replace or repaint benches, replace bins which cope wth cigarette butts and to deep clean the pavements.  It is also working towards banishing litter and graffiti.

Volunteers have gardened together, firstly on the central reservation to improve its appearance before our first Farmers’ Market.  The ‘Blooming’ Coalition was apparent as Iain Bowen (Lib/Dem) and John O’Shea (Labour) assisted with some challenging tasks and other volunteers worked for hours in pouring rain to achieve our goals.

Volunteers tidying the beds ready for planting on The Green

Let’s pull together and put the ‘Village’ back into Acocks Green!

Contact: Fran Lee, Heart of England in Bloom – Part of R.H.S. Britain in Bloom e mail fran.lee47@yahoo.co.uk 0121 706 0076

Despite the dreary weather the first ever Farmer’s Market in Acocks Green went well. There was a buzz around the village with many shoppers enjoying the lovely local produce and other stalls. Locals came and spoke to those of us on the community stall.  As the day progressed the sun made a brief appearance and lots of people enjoyed the entertainment on the stage.

Don’t forget that the Farmers Market will take place every month on the third Saturday of each month.  Sandy Gianni the (Business Improvement District Manager) and her colleagues worked hard making sure that everything went smoothly. Lets hope that the market continues to attract lots of shoppers and helps keep the village as a prosporous and thriving shopping centre.  The next market will be Saturday 21st July.

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Were you there? What did you think? What was your favourite purchase?  Did you take any photos you would like to share? Just comment on this post to give us your feedback.

Great news was announced on Friday, a YES vote won the recent ballot to make Acocks Green a Business Improvement District (BID).  The BID goes live in January, whereby businesses pay into a central fund to improve the village. This in turn helps improve visitor numbers and therefore more successful shops and businesses. Outlined below are more of the expected outcomes of a BID -

A thriving business community that:

  • Has the confidence to grow in a supportive and flourishing environment.
  • Puts the customer at the heart of everything the BID does
  • Prospers through collective promotion and new local supply chains.
  • Creates a better image for the Village to attract more local custom.
  • Works better together and with the police to reduce crime.

Acocks Green Village. Photograph courtesy of Birmingham Mail

Thanks to all those that helped arrange and champion the BID which will last for at least 5 years. Thanks especially goes to Melinda Brown, Town Centre Manager, who worked hard to make the BID a success and has worked closely with the Neighbourhood Forum over the years. We wish her farewell and success for her future, as her job role officially comes to an end on 31st October.

More information about Acocks Green BID is available at the link below.

https://sites.google.com/site/acocksgreenbid/home/announcements/businessessayyestobid

At our recent Public Meeting Town Centre Manager Melinda Brown supported by local businesswoman Karen Vaughan from Karens Estate Agents explained the proposals to make Acocks Green Village a Business Improvement District (BID).  There are many of these districts around the UK and several in Birmingham including Kings Heath and Erdington.

A Business Improvement District is a partnership between a local authority and the local business community to develop projects and services that will benefit the trading environment within the boundary of a clearly defined commercial area.  Becoming a BID will help to bring improvements to Acocks Green Village shopping area and make the village a better place for shoppers and traders alike.

Acocks Green village (picture from Atholl Lodge website)

To become a BID, local businesses must first vote to pay funds into a pot which is then available for centre improvements such as floral displays, better appearances for vacant properties, community toilets, seasonal street events, or extra street cleaning.  Businesses pay in according to their size.

If you are a village shopper and think BID is a good idea why not mention it to the local shop keepers and ask them to support the BID scheme.  For more details on BID click the link below for up-to-date information.

Acocks Green Business Improvement District Website

Possible BID projects:

  • Expanding & improving the Village Radio scheme
  • Creating a Village website to promote all businesses
  • Professional training for businesses and their staff such as marketing, customer service & business planning
  • Enhanced Christmas Lights & planting
  • Seasonal street based activity / entertainment
  • Promoting the evening economy
  • Promotional materials e.g. Village magazine
  • Marketing to property agents
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