Helping to Re-open Buckingham
Buckingham Town Council is asking all businesses in the town to help think about what can be done to help businesses reopen, support the high street and develop online sales from the town.
Complete the business consultation via SurveyMonkey
The Council has developed a guidance pack for shops and services to help them trade safely as we come out of lock down. The pack contains information about adapting business premises to facilitate social distancing and explains the plans to re-open markets and public spaces in the town centre.
Seeking Ideas
The town’s Economic Development Working Group is hosted by the Town Council and includes representatives from Buckinghamshire Council, local businesses, the Buckingham Society and the University. The Group met on 26th May to discuss how to help the town reopen as lock down restrictions are gradually lifted. Initial ideas include extending the current free parking arrangements, providing outdoor tables and chairs for people who have purchased take away goods, supporting local businesses to trade or promote themselves online and provide advice and guidance. The Town Council are now asking all local businesses to let us know your ideas and requests for help.
Online Shopping Platform
We understand that in the short to medium term, town centre footfall will be greatly reduced, and shops will be unable to serve as many customers as usual at any one time. We are therefore exploring the option of an online shopping platform and home delivery service for businesses in Buckingham. This would likely provide participating businesses with additional sales and would help local residents, many of whom will still be self-isolating or making fewer trips to the town centre until Covid-19 ceases to be a risk to their health.
Any online shop and delivery platform will be made very simple for businesses to use. We know that local online shop and delivery models work as our colleagues in Princes Risborough launched the Risborough Basket 7 weeks ago and have made over 4000 sales with an average transaction value of £18.00.
Thanks to help from Buckinghamshire Council, we are working with Sally Williams from Retail Revival Ltd. who set up the Risborough Basket with Princes Risborough Town Council. Sally would like to discuss your needs and issues as you adapt to new trading conditions and her findings and recommendations will inform our immediate plans for business support.
To receive our guidance pack and further information about the support available please complete the contact form attached.
For enquiries please contact Paul Hodson at Buckingham Town Council on 01280 823020 or email office@buckingham-tc.gov.uk