Expert to bring people, businesses and shops to town centre (From Sutton Guardian)

Sutton businessman heads up town's Business Improvement District

12:00pm Sunday 17th March 2013 in News By Mike Pyle

Ross Feeney was appointed as boss of Successful Sutton, the town centre's new BID

He may not have his own office yet, but the man tasked with making the town centre more tempting says his first weeks in the job are going well.

Ross Feeney has been appointed chief executive of Successful Sutton - the town's business improvement district (BID) scheme which aims to help traders become successful and brighten up the town centre.

BIDs work by charging a levy to town centre businesses which is then used by the BID company, in this case Successful Sutton, to promote the town.

Mr Feeney, who has lived his whole life in the Sutton area, was appointed chief executive of Successful Sutton at the end of last year and is now making plans for the rest of the year.

Mr Feeney said Sutton's businesses generate a levy of around £330,000 per year and that will be spent on the BID company's four main aims - enhancing the town centre, delivering value for money to levy payers, protecting the town centre and making the centre brighter.

Mr Feeney said there are plans for an easter event, a mobile phone app which will tell shoppers in the town centre what offers are available near them, to invest in vinyl coverings to make vacant shops more attractive or fill them with art, improved Christmas decorations and more.

Successful Sutton also helps small companies make savings through large orders by letting different businesses order products collectively.

Mr Feeney said: "Sutton is a lovely area and it's a good shopping centre. 

"It's an exciting time for Sutton with huge developments and investment at both ends of the High Street. We want to encourage people and businesses to come here.

"I've not been in the job long and my bag is my office at the moment - I'm a wi-fi bandit - but it's already been very exciting and encouraging."

Successful Sutton is holding an Easter event featuring a craft and local produce market, entertainment and more in the town centre from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, April 30.

There will be an Easter egg hunt for 500 under-12s between noon and 2.30pm. Any children who can find Easter bunnies around the centre will win chocolate eggs.