Annual figures show Bury St Edmunds is still attracting the crowds
More people are coming to shop and eat in Bury St Edmunds the latest footfall figures have revealed.
Both footfall information from the town centre and the arc show a four and 4.5 per cent increase in a year where most town centres have experienced a drop in custom.
The figures come just as the business improvement organisation Ourburystedmunds launches an online initiative to promote offers, promotions and events at the town’s food and drink outlets during February when trade is at its lowest.
Annual footfall recorded on the Abbeygate Street camera showed 4,600,178 activations, an increase of four per cent over 2013.
At the arc footfall increased by almost 365,000, up by almost 4.5 per cent.
Mark Cordell, Ourburystedmunds chief executive, said: “I’m delighted that so many people are opting to come to Bury and, possibly looking at the bigger picture from these figures, choosing it over and above other town centres, which is very pleasing.
“The BID (business improvement district) has worked hard, along with partner agencies and the member businesses themselves, at making the town an attractive destination throughout the year. We’ll continue our efforts in 2015 to ensure we have an attractive offering for retail, leisure and business visitors.”
Colin Roberts, arc manager, said: “The centre has gone from strength to strength as these figures show and it’s doing exceptionally well against the national retail centre figures which are down by just over one per cent.”
Ourburystedmunds is inviting all food and drink BID members to get involved in the Fab Feb Food Fest.
This involves providing information to the BID team which will promote offers through its website and engage in social media promotions. The hashtag #FFFF will promote Fab February through Twitter. Photos of events can be also be loaded to respective instagram accounts.
Mr Cordell said: “February is traditional the quieter month and we want to make people aware in a coordinated fashion of what is going on in food and drink in the town.
Our high quality food establishments have played a part in increasing footfall as has free parking on Tuesdays after 3pm.”
Fore more see www.ourburystedmunds.com
