BEESTON: BOOM OR BUST

Wednesday 11 January 2023, Royal British Legion. 

Ezra Watson: Spotlight on the ARC Cinema

‘The Spotlight talk; was from Ezra Watson, the manager of the ARC cinema who graduated in Biochemistry from the University of Nottingham – his real passions are outside the laboratory in hospitality and service. Ezra enjoys meeting people, initially becoming a pub landlord, but working 80 hours a week and marriage encouraged a change of job. That is how he came to Beeston as Manager of the newly opened ARC Cinema  six months ago and he has spent time talking to local businesses in what he sees as a lively town centre, he is impressed.  He also sees the ARC, containing 8 screens, as important for local commercial success He explained that ARC were trying to make a niche for themselves as a local community asset, supporting and responding to the local community needs. It provides an excellent experience for us all because it is large and flexible enough to accommodate special groups and interests, which he is keen to encourage. He mentioned the various regular events he has   arranged for groups with potential access issues such as the hard of hearing every Monday afternoon, mornings for young mothers, young families and people with disabilities. He is also arraigning films on request for groups such as the Civic Society, Hen-night reunions and even for individuals. ‘Recorded as live’ Stage, Opera and Ballet performance are about to start. The ARC has also helped sponsor local sports teams our Alight in Beeston night. 

A great step forward for our high street as part of its recent upturn in fortunes.

Cllr Tim Hallam: Beeston Boom or Bust – Beeston as a go-to destination

Councillor Tim Hallam holds the portfolio of Economic Development and Asset Management at Broxtowe Borough Council. He felt improvements in Beeston had been made in recent years and improvements should follow from increased funding in Stapleford where he is a councillor. He felt we needed to ensure local large developments created a tribe people and businesses which worked together, where skills are exchanged and the less able cared for. ‘A community without businesses is not a community’ but it  is about place making – businesses would grow through time and geography to serve communities and interests, but they could be relatively self-focused and inward looking.

Tim outlined a past model of treating settlements like onions, with banks and bigger shops in the middle surrounded by rings of industry and lower grade housing with schools and support facilities dotted among the houses, all wrapped in a high quality outer layer. He felt this model does not work anymore, local businesses and industries change and we are all more mobile. We travel out of town for our employment and entertain ourselves in different ways. This, he thought, would not change but we needed to plan to reduce the amount of travel to , for example, out of town retailing.

To survive and thrive it was essential that high streets provided a product which was valued, an experience people enjoyed and service which is better than can be provided online – he gave examples of independent businesses who had succeeded in delivering  all three. He spoke of a Retford bookshop as being a wonderland of new experiences and of excitement – and successful town centres are all about such experiences, they are places for meeting and making friends. Each is unique so we need to think carefully about what makes our town special as a gathering place so that we can retain and develop our strengths.

Tim suggested a twelve point plan for Beeston to boom on these lines:

  • 1. It is the traders’ job to supply goods and services and to meet needs, not councils;
  • 2. A council can only offer a safety net and a leg up; 
  • 3. Encourage new businesses – innovate;
  • 4. Rent your shed for start-ups;
  • 5. If you have empty space make sure that the community knows about it;
  • 6. Be flexible;
  • 7. Adapt; 
  • 8. Talk; 
  • 9. Improvise;
  • 10. Listen:
  • 11. Accept failure;
  • 12. Love what you do! 

He added ‘never believe anyone with a twelve point plan. This is about how people interact. There are no easy solutions. Embrace complexity and work towards boom. Believe in the place. Beeston has a lot going for it!’

He felt that successive changes in government and government policy, particularly at the central government level, had made planning to enhance the economy at a local level very tough. There had been successive central government funding rounds and policy switches like HS2 delivery which had meant decisions had to be made on shifting sands. He felt government should not intervene overly but should encourage  a culture of can-do people to start new businesses and provide appropriate start-up support particularly for light industry. In discussion, the Beeston Business Network was mentioned as an important forum for business collaboration in the absence of a local Chamber of Commerce or Business Improvement District.

A final comment was that ‘councils may not know how to run businesses, but they can blow trumpets for the place!

Tim is associated with a potential new business in Strelley, a planned wild animal species rescue and breeding  programme. He described his involvement and why the business was needed both from the wildlife and visitor perspectives, land planning applications are in progress at present.

Footnote: Tim works for Alstom in railway engineering. He represents Stapleford South East as a Town and Borough Councillor. Tim is also engineering and sustainability consultant for the proposed wildlife park in Trowel/Strelley, an interest he has declared in his role as Councillor.

A very positive and engaging evening of energy, optimism and commitment to the future of Beeston from both speakers

12 January 2023

Peter Robinson
Gary SW