2018 in Purley – What a year !

Happy new year to you all. Well we had a great 2018 and let’s just hope that 2019 is just as good or Purley.

Events wise we had a great Food festival again in June, We were really proud that like previous food festivals it was a celebration of all good things to do with Purley. Almost all stall holders were local to the Purley area. Tesco did us proud again and a great show from Coughlans with some of their great vegan products. We even had Frost, who may not be a food provider but sponsored the smoothie bike, which was busy all day.

One of the great features of the Purley Food Festival as with almost all event that the Purely BID run is that it was free. We had a selection of treats for children including free face painting as well as a superb mad hatters tea party.

We really look forward to the next food festival and if you would like to get involved please get in touch with events@inpurley.london .
Other events included our very innovative Live Well in Purley event promoting all things healthy. We also held our annual Easter egg hunt, supported the Easter parade and the Christmas lights turn on.

The Purley BID does not stop at event, we look to support our businesses with cost reduction initiative saving our businesses on may things such as utilities and rates. We have also held a few networking events as well as attending events to promote Purley.

Our biggest win which was not just for Purely but for the country as a whole was the successful campaign on business rates reduction. The campaign was mentioned directly in the governments Autumn Budget, crediting local MP Chris Philp for the campaign to correct the injustice of the previous rates increase.

2018 also saw the introduction of the Purley BID ambassador. We are very fortunate to have Graham as our ambassador who is constantly out and about in Purley engaging with our local businesses seeing how we can help assist with issues as well as record and report issues to do with broken street furniture, fly tipping and antisocial behaviour.

Over the year you will have noticed several changes to Purley. We have installed a 90m mural round the derelict land in the centre of the town. We have started on the project to get Purley recognised by those who see the place as a drive through town by placing banner on the lamppost bring us our own identity. We have also hanging baskets onto the lampposts which has been a long hard project with the banner brought together by our events manager Michelle@inpurley.london .

We have also seen an extension to the winter lights to the trees in Purley. These winter light have had a great reception and look superb. Unlike Christmas lights these winter lights are on from when the clock go forward to when the clocks go back. With regards to the Christmas lights these also would not be possible without the BID as we have paid for lamppost testing and insurance, both of which are required if we are to have Christmas lights.
You will also have seen poppies on the lampposts which have been brought to you by Purley BID.

This is just a touch of what the BID has doe over the past 12 months and we have not even mentioned Rotary support, working to be a dementia friendly town, Installing artwork, police liaison, member of Croydon future place and Croydon night time economy and much much more.

We are really looking forward to another great year in 2109 and what we would like is to get more businesses involved and as such if any Purley business would like to get to join the board to help make decisions or where their money is invest then please do get in touch to Admin@inPurley.london .