NEW COLOURFUL hanging baskets have sprouted up to Tavistock’s high street as the town welcomes shoppers from across the country.

As the tourism season approaches, the town’s businesses are looking forward to an upturn in their fortunes.

They are hoping a combination of good weather and a wealth of small independent traders will help offset one of the most challenging winters for trade which has suffered due to the cost of living crisis exacerbated by high inflation and energy costs.

Businesses have also been hit by supply chain issues, their own costs and labour shortages.

The hanging baskets are always a first sign of hope in the town as the warmer weather brings in visitors by road and coach. They were put up by the town council last week and watered by their workforce.

The floral decorations are funded by traders paying for membership of the Business Improvement District (BID).

This year, BID have taken the decision, as in previous years, to place the baskets ‘strategically’ around the town, rather than allocating to a singular business.

However, in order to save costs while BID is funding its vital campaign against the introduction of on-street parking charging, no empty properties will have baskets outside.

Some traders are unhappy at the allocation, which in a few cases, they claim is ‘unfair’. One street in particular feels ‘neglected’ by BID, both through the allocation of hanging baskets and at the crucial Christmas peak trading period. A few shops say they have either been left out altogether in the scheme or claim to have been ‘short-changed’ and not been given as many baskets as they feel they are due because they are larger than average.

Traders on Pepper Street said they felt ‘left out’ and ‘neglected’ in the allocation of both Christmas and summer street decoration.

Tavistock BID manager Janna Sanders said: ‘We are really pleased to see the hanging baskets back up in the town centre and wish to thank Hansford Bell for their contribution towards the town’s floral displays this year. Tavistock BID is committed to providing hanging baskets throughout the town and this project forms part of our 2021-2026 business plan having been identified as a priority by 90 per cemt of the town’s businesses. Fifteen per cent of our annual budget is spent on this singular project alone. With the number of baskets being requested by businesses rising every year, we determined that we needed to find a more sustainable way of delivering the town’s floral displays and, therefore, committed to the provision of a general display throughout the town that benefits all.

‘While they are an important part of the placemaking work that we do for the town, our focus this year is necessarily on other support for the high street, and we have faced unexpected costs of £5,000 for our Stop The Meters. Consequently, a survey of baskets was undertaken to reduce them where possible, such as at empty properties. We are still installing the baskets at this time and are unable to comment on specific locations, some of which are still in progress.’