What a difference a year makes

In just 12 months Brackmills Industrial Estate has taken a giant leap towards its ultimate aim, which is to re-establish itself as the premier business and logistics park in the UK. As a Business Improvement District (BID) the estate’s businesses pool funds to spend on initiatives and projects wholly committed to improving the estate.

 

This year the BID’s largest capital project got underway, a £390,000 road improvement plan. Speed humps have been removed, mini roundabouts installed and new parking bays created. One of the most common requests from businesses on the estate had been to get rid of the estate’s speed humps. Car drivers had reported feeling vulnerable as they approached speed humps, often finding themselves tailgated by HGV’s which could straddle the humps and did not need to slow down. Speed awareness signs have also been installed on key roads, to keep speeding at bay.

 

Also big news this year was the recruitment of a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) for Brackmills who, in just six months, clocked up well over 1,000 hours of street patrols, visited 85 businesses, held police surgeries, identified and dealt with suspicious vehicles and co-ordinated several speed gun campaigns.

 

In response to the county council’s decision to switch off nearly 300 of the estate’s 426 lights due to funding cuts, the Brackmills Estate Manager and PCSO carried out a lighting survey and audit of the estate, ultimately switching 88 lights back on to ensure safety and security would not be compromised.

The estate also decided to purchase extra salt supplies, designed to complement the gritting already planned by Northamptonshire County Council,to ensure snowfall does not stop movement on and off the estate this winter.

A substantial investment has been made this year to improve the overall look and feel of the estate – including new cycle ways and footpaths, designated lorry bays and signage.

Lots of new businesses moved on to the estate in 2011 and many of the BID successes and projects have secured Brackmills substantial press coverage.

 

As part of its commitment to supporting young people and to generating employment opportunities the BID now employs its very own Apprentice Ranger, who works alongside the Estate Manager and is responsible for issues such as litter auditing and communication.

 

In response to a survey at the end of 2010, which asked employees how they would like to be communicated to and with, the BID now produces monthly electronic and hard copy newsletters, which include news, views and updates from around the estate.

 

To finish the year off in style the Brackmills BID has also treated the estate to its very first roundabout Christmas tree, which will be unveiled and switched on later this month.