Summer Hanging Baskets Scheme 2007 & Leamington BID
A The main shopping streets of Old Town are transformed at key points in the year with the Christmas Lights and the Summer Hanging Baskets Schemes.
The Old Town Business Association (OTBA) works in close partnership with Warwick District Council to deliver these sponsorship schemes.
During the summer months, businesses are invited to sponsor hanging baskets with glorious floral displays, which are either installed directly on their business premises or on poles along Clemens Street.
Pamela Dunsdon co-ordinates the Summer Hanging Baskets Scheme, and can be contacted on 07949 611 188 or by email at pamdunsdon@magnetic-creative.co.uk
This year, 22 businesses sponsored 37 baskets in Leamington Old Town, a drop on previous years, however Leamington is currently in a period of change as it is in the first stage of the process in its aim to become a Business Improvement District (BID). Hopes are high that businesses will highlight the hanging basket and Christmas lights schemes, voting for continued support and investment of these initiatives. The voting process is scheduled to begin in Feb 2008.
For the latest information about BID Leamington contact Helen Smith, Project Coordinator on 01926 833 917, by email at helensmith@bidleamington.com or visit the website at www.bidleamington.com
List of businesses sponsoring summer hanging baskets for 2007:
Ace Caterland Ltd
Bath Street Furniture
Birk & Nagra Chemists
Bridge Dental Practice
Christian Resource Centre
Click OK
Electrospares
Eleven French Restaurant
Francesco
hirecentres.com
John Atkins Cycles
Momenti
Next Stop Newsagents
Par Pak PartyTime Ltd
Philip Jones
Pig and Fiddle
R.A. Wyld Dental Practice
Robertson Memorials
Tara & Co
The Basement Restaurant
The Grand Union Restaurant
TJ's Bar & Bistro
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SCHEME 2007
During the festive season, the Christmas Lights illuminate Leamington, from the North end of the Parade, right down to Southborough Terrace in Old Town, including many other streets on the way.
It currently costs approximately £40,000 per year to install the Leamington Christmas Lights display. By sponsoring the Christmas Lights you can get your company name in front of an estimated two and a half million visitors who are expected to pass through Leamington during the pre Christmas period. In addition, events such as the Christmas Lights Switch-On continue to draw out large numbers of local people.
There are 5 Levels at which you can contribute as a sponsor.
Basic - £25 (No Maximum number of sponsors)
Bronze - £125 (No Maximum number of sponsors)
Silver - £250 (Maximum of 20 sponsors)
Gold - £500 (Maximum of 20 sponsors)
Platinum - £5,000 (Maximum of 2 sponsors)
Benefits include:
- Acknowledgement in all Leamington Christmas Lights Switch-On features with local press.
- Sponsor shields on the Parade (shields up from mid November until after twelfth night in January).
- VIP Tickets to the reception following the Leamington Christmas Lights Switch-On.
- Business name / logo included in all advertising carried out as part of the Leamington Christmas Lights Switch-On.
Other Sponsorship Opportunities
Contact Kirsty Russell, Town Centre Management at Warwick District Council on 01926 456 017 or by email on Kirsty.Russell@warwickdc.gov.uk to discuss supporting Christmas Lights and other sponsorship opportunities.
Record turnout for Leamington’s third Canal Festival
Leamington Old Town was full of activity on Sunday 06 May, with Clemens Street and the adjoining canal towpath the focus for the Leamington Spa Canal Festival. The welcome sunshine brought out hundreds of people who enjoyed the many attractions at this day-long event.
Taking place every other year, this May Day festival was originally thought up six years ago by George Darmody when he was Mayor of Leamington. As a dedicated boater, he was keen to establish an event which would encourage boaters to visit Leamington and enable local people to experience a taste of life on the canal.
As one of the key members of the festival committee, George is determined to improve facilities for visiting boaters. “This festival provides an ideal opportunity for the local authorities to work together to make some lasting improvements to this particular part of Old Town.”
Thirty five narrowboats and special interest boats moored up for the weekend, including the steam powered boats ‘Malus’ and ‘Scorpio’, which are part of the British waterways historic working boat trust. A privately owned steam boat ‘Adamant’ was also open to the public. ‘Saltie’ from the Saltisford Canal Trust provided boat trips on the Sunday, and the ‘Prince Regent’ served canal-side food and refreshments in their floating restaurant, usually moored at the bottom of Radford Locks at Offchurch. Free fishing lessons were organised by the Junior Angling Club aboard a working boat provided by British Waterways. Black Buoy Cruising Club, based in Knowle, were a strong presence at the festival, with 17 boats attending. With the maximum speed of a boat about 4mph, it took a days cruising for each of the boats to arrive in Leamington.
Local groups were invited to perform, with the programme officially opened by Cllr Andy Leahy, Mayor of Leamington Spa and Cllr Bill Evans, Chair Warwick District Council. Performances ranged from Bhangra dancing to Jazz, and included three chances to see ‘Chaser’ from Motion House Dance Theatre and an energetic set from the Sambassadors of Groove. A larger than life-size deep-sea diver entertained people as they worked their way through the market stalls, with both crafts and local community groups well represented. The Milan Group for Women created over 100 metres of bunting which decorated Clemens Street, helping to create the party atmosphere.
Artist Jo Roberts and Chloe Johnson from the Leamington Art Gallery & Museum, set up an art exhibition on the bridge overlooking the canal. Linked to Jo’s exhibition ‘Finding a Way Through’, children were invited to create work on the theme of maps, islands and journeys and then display their work at the festival.
Inspired by the Grand Union Canal and the theme of ‘waterways’, an exhibition of new work produced by local writers was displayed along the canal towpath. Supported by the Women’s Forum and Warwick Words festival of literature and spoken word, the display was accompanied by photographs taken during ‘Grand Ideas!’ – a Magnetic Creative Writing workshop combined with a short walk along the canal.
This year, the festival was financed and co-ordinated by the Royal Leamington Spa Town Council in partnership with local canal enthusiasts and community volunteers, Warwick District Council, the Inland Waterways Association, and Mid-Warwickshire Yacht Club, with support from British Waterways, the Old Town Business Association and Regenesis.
In preparation for this year’s event, Pamela Dunsdon, one of the festival organisers, helped out at a recent litter-pick along the canal. “It was encouraging to see how busy the towpath was, with people out for a walk with their dogs or going out for a Sunday morning bike ride. The canal is built on a level, so there aren’t any steep hills to climb. It’s a great way to get a bit of gentle exercise. And people are friendlier along the canal, I don’t know what it is, but everyone seems to smile at each other and say hello.”
The Grand Union Canal is an important part of local history. Chris Bills, a volunteer from ‘History at Bath Place’ – a Community Archive Project, is currently researching the canal area, recording people’s memories and collecting photographs. “There’s so much interest in local buildings and people. This project focuses on the history of the everyday, the kind of information that would otherwise be lost or forgotten.”
The festival has become a significant day for local traders, with many of the businesses in Clemens Street and High Street opening specially for the day, and using the opportunity to offer special deals to festival-goers.
Robert Nash, Town Clerk at the Royal Leamington Town Council would like to thank all the people that worked so hard to make this event such a huge success. “This magical event came about through the hard work of a small team of volunteers, giving their time and expertise so generously. We have received a lot of positive feedback from the people who came. We hope to run a similar event in 2009.”
Capital Investment in Leamington Old Town
For the latest information regarding business development in Leamington Old Town, contact Ray Smith, Business Development Co-ordinator on 01926 833 908 or by email: ray.smith@warwickdc.gov.uk
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