Review of 2024
As 2024 draws to a close we wanted to share some highlights of the year:
* Delivered 15 school holiday Kids Clubs sessions, welcoming over 150 families 85% of which went on to shop or eat in the town centre.
* Installed a community funded Defibrillator into The Walton Village and trained over 45 business owners / employees.
* Launched a NEW Love Walton website, giving BID businesses access to create events, offers and to keep its profile UpToDate. Likewise, the community can submit events or regularly clubs / classes to the what’s on calendar.
* Invested in the annual ‘deep clean’ of the BID zone, extending areas of The Heart on New Zealand Avenue and Hepworth Way.
* Started ‘Greening Walton’ with a group of resident volunteers and achieved It’s our neighbourhood ‘Getting Established’ status by South & Southeast in Bloom ‘. We have planted & maintained planters in the War Memorial Garden and a compete landscaping project in the bedding area alongside Sainsbury’s on New Zealand Avenue – completely transforming this a key entry point into Walton.
* Delivered a wet ‘May Fayre’ event in Bridge Street, a fantastic 2nd Corporate Duckathon, supported 3 major venues on National Heritage Open Day and prepared a fabulous Festival of Light only for it to be cancelled on safety grounds due to Storm Bert.
* Launched the inaugural ‘Walton BID Business Awards’ which recognised 9 different categories and a special award for ’employee of the year’, receiving over 940 individual votes supporting over 35 town centre businesses.
* Hosted themed town centre trails and collaborated on competitions with local organisations.
* Supported Walton ‘Love, Local Independents’ with regular advertising in Your Elmbridge Magazine, ‘Meet the Business’ Blogs and the promotion of all our small businesses on UK Independents weekend (July), Black Friday ‘shop in person blog’ (November) and Small Business Saturday (December).
* Delivered the installation of the largest project from the BIDs Term One Business Plan – 22 Way Finding Fingerposts – connecting the BID Zone to the Railways Station and The River Thames. Feedback says they are already having a positive impact on visitor numbers!
* Invested in our town centre Christmas Tree and NEW over street Banner Christmas Lighting and mini solar powered hanging basket Christmas Trees!
* Ran our wonderful, annual, Best Dressed Christmas Window competition!
* Launched the Walton Business Crime Partnership, using DISC, with support from our local neighbourhood Police Team and Borough Commissioner.
* Behind the scenes, ensuring the voice of the BID Businesses are heard by Elmbridge Borough Council and Surrey County Council, on a range of issues including – parking, anti-social behaviour and safety, graffiti, streetscape and furniture, fly-tipping and roadworks.
Thank you – if you are still reading – and wishing all businesses and our community a Very Happy New Year – Here’s to 2025!