Newquay BID asks why businesses are skipping Shopwatch meetings

Empty chairs at a meeting rarely make the news. But in Newquay, they’ve led to a direct appeal to the town’s traders.

Newquay BID has asked local businesses for their views after attendance at its Shopwatch meetings fell lower than it would like. It wants to know why people are staying away and, more importantly, what would bring them back.

What Shopwatch meetings are for

The meetings bring local businesses, the police and the town rangers together in one room. The idea is to share intelligence, raise concerns and work together to help keep Newquay safe.

The BID says that without businesses taking part, the town risks losing that intelligence sharing and the communication that comes with it.

The questions businesses are being asked

The BID accepts that finding the time isn’t always easy. So it is putting a few questions to businesses:

• Is the location convenient?
• Would a different day or time work better?
• Would online meetings be easier?
• Are the meetings too frequent?
• If you don’t attend, what’s stopping you?

Those who already go aren’t off the hook either. They’re being asked what could be done differently to make the meetings more valuable.

How to have your say

Feedback is being collected by direct message through the Newquay BID Facebook page. The BID says it genuinely wants to make improvements, and that no feedback is too small.

“These meetings are about working together,” the BID said in its appeal. “Let’s make sure we’re all working together to keep Newquay safe.”

📷Credit: Newquay BID