A project to increase winter events in Whitby and boost Baxtergate, which was awarded nearly £90,000 worth of funding, has revealed its latest plans.
‘Whitby Winter Event Expansion – Baxtergate & Beyond’ is being driven by a partnership – led by PSST! Marketing, Whitby Town Council, Lois Kirtlan (founder of Whitby Lit Fest) and local businesses – to increase footfall, improve the appearance of Baxtergate and encourage greater collaboration across Whitby’s town centre.
Investing in the empty shops on Baxtergate, improving community safety, business workshops and holding a community clean-up are the current priorities, says the partnership.
This involves temporary window displays for empty retail units to improve their appearance while longer-term occupiers are sought, working with North Yorkshire Council to explore possibilities for new catenary lighting along Baxtergate and exploring the possibility of getting funding for shopfront enhancement in line with the historic character of Baxtergate’s buildings.
There are plans for a ShopWatch scheme for Baxtergate and it is hoped local policing teams will become involved with meetings.
Volunteers, who will be known as the Baxtergate Brigade, are being sought to help with a ‘September Sparkle’ community clean-up event on Monday September 7
Alongside the clean-up, work is progressing on ideas for a QR code heritage trail celebrating Baxtergate’s history and encouraging visitors to explore the street in more depth.
The business workshops, known as ‘Enterprise Made Simple’, will begin this Autumn and cover topics requested by local businesses, to help traders strengthen their marketing, improve customer experience and build resilience throughout the year.
New additions to the winter events line-up in Whitby will centre around a new ‘Fire & Ice Festival’ on January 23 next year.
There will be an ice sculpture trail through the town centre, live carving demonstrations, family activities and a fire performance at Dock End.
Local children will be invited to enter a drawing competition, with the winning design transformed into one of the festival’s featured ice sculptures and unveiled during the official opening ceremony.
In addition, Whitby’s existing Christmas Market is set to be expanded into a Whitby’s Christmas Festival with a wider programme of events, which the partnership says will be “celebrating Whitby’s independent businesses and community organisations”.
They include a children’s colouring competition, visits from Santa, late night shopping throughout the festive season, fringe events and community performances.
This is being made possible with £89,353 worth of funding, provided through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund, supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
A spokesperson for the partnership behind ‘Whitby Winter Event Expansion – Baxtergate & Beyond’ said: “The Baxtergate & Beyond partnership believes the project represents far more than a programme of events.
“The investment through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund provides an important foundation for bringing businesses, community organisations and local partners together to create lasting improvements.
“By combining physical improvements, business support, community engagement and a coordinated marketing strategy, the group hopes to create a thriving, attractive and resilient town centre that benefits residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
