How a Street Party in 2010 led to Award Winning York Bishyroad.net trader

organisation

Anna Semlyen: @AnnaSemlyen1EMW UK Volunteer Coordinator 2015

( (& City of York Councillor)

Bishy Road map

Bishy Road Background

• Bishopthorpe Road has a local arcade of shops South Bank, York

• Approx 70 independent traders (except Sainsbury’s Local & a betting shop)

• Post office & Terry’s chocolate factory closed• Competition from out of town supermarkets. in 2010 traders worried re future/recession

Street Party = Eureka Moment• Carfree Cities conference organisers asked Bishy road

traders/City of York council for a street party road closure

• Traders got together an email list & formed traders organisation - Johnny Hayes chair

• 6.00pm on 2nd July 2010 it closed to traffic. By 6.15pm 3,000 people eagerly supported a local parade of independent shop keepers. Traders mouths literally fell open in disbelief!

• Perhaps shops were popular and were going to do alright despite the recession?

Street Party = Digital Cooperation Too!

• Digital communication and cooperation has blossomed. Bishyroad.net has strong brand, 70 businesses, twitter, newsletter, facebook, regular meetings. £30 pa to join

• Professional media company Pick & Mix media promote independent business offers and discounts.

• Heart of the community logo for Bishyroad.net

Bishy Road Events • Carfree Conference Street Party 2010 - &

subsequent yearly car free parties.• ‘Jubolympics’ 2012 • Traders championed safer 20mph limits – Sept 2013

installed• Annual light displays – crowd funded in 10 days at

£10 per bulb (£4,500). 3,000 attended switch on• ‘Bishy in Bloom’ • J’Adore Bishy Rue Tour De France Street party -

10,000+ attendees. BBC coverage • Tour de Yorkshire street party - 2 May 2015

Tour de France party Bishy Road

Cakes!

Bishy Rd Awards

• Point of Light award to chair Johnny Hayes for high street regeneration from Prime Minister March 2015

• Top 3 best parades in Britain - GB High Street Awards, by the Department for Communities & Local Government

• Best dressed street by Le Tour organisers. BBC based their breakfast coverage.

• Independent traders all win York Community Pride Award for Service with a Smile 2014.

Johnny Hayes with awards

‘Notting Hill’ of the North & Street Parties as Economic Stimulus

• Community spirit apparent• Traders flourishing & property prices

rising fast• Johnny Hayes on local and DCLG

National Speaking tours re high street regeneration

• City of York Council Economic Scrutiny report on Digital skills March 2015 recommends Street Closures as catalyst for digital cooperation & economic strength, - recommend council offer free /discount street closures to trader organisations.

Conclusions A car free street party helped a York independent trader organisation to form & flourish

Street parties are good for business!

Bishyroad.net is a great case study * car free success* economic development * community & cooperation* wealth creation