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Tory plan to axe Bluecaps branded 'clueless'
Retail manager hits out at Tory suggestion to beat the credit crunch.
Conservative plans to combat the credit crunch in Bedford have been branded clueless by the town's retail leader.
The Tory group at Bedford Borough Council last week unveiled its 'Protecting Our Borough's Businesses' action plan, an 11-point scheme to respond to the financial downturn.
Its most eye-catching suggestion was abolishing the town centre 'Bluecaps' – staff who help shoppers in the town centre.
But Mo Aswat, director of BedfordBID, the trade organisation which employs them, says the Conservatives did not consult local businesses before drawing up their plans.
He says they are based on inaccurate numbers, lack understanding, and suggest changes the council has no legal power to enforce.
Mr Aswat said: "None of the Tories have consulted BedfordBID about this at all. This is the first I have heard of it. We have not had a single piece of communication.
"For example, they haven't asked us what the Bluecaps do. They haven't asked us what the Bluecaps cost. And they haven't considered the fact that the Bluecaps are not funded by taxpayers, they are paid for by businesses in the town through BedfordBID."
BedfordBID was founded in March 2005, and is a private company funded by 527 business throughout the town centre who together contribute 500,000 per year to it.
In September 2005 the organisation launched its Bluecaps scheme, with five employed in the town.
The Conservative document states: "While we welcome the helpful and cheerful service the Bluecaps provide, we believe this general advice service can be provided by existing, council-funded services such as parking attendants, street rangers, park rangers and the Tourist Information Centre.
"In these difficult times, we do not believe the annual cost of over 170,000 to fund the Bluecaps is affordable or prudent."
Mr Aswat disagreed on all points.
He said: "I really don't think the Conservatives know what the Bluecaps do. When they are in the town the Bluecaps deal with 20,000 single enquiries every quarter.
"They visit 200 businesses in the town each week. For each promotion we do, such as Christmas in Bedford, they visit every business in Bedford three times.
"They have been involved in removing 461 pieces of graffiti in town to date, and a whole host of other initiatives such as Child:Safe. If the borough council can get its parking attendants to do all of that then I will be very impressed."
He added: "The figure of 170,000 is completely wrong. The scheme costs 100,000 per year. That is agreed by the business plan. Where the Tories have got their figures from, I don't know.
"This is public information and we are happy to share it. And we would be more than happy to hear any suggestions they can make to be more cost- effective. Unfortunately, I do not think they have got a clue.
"We are a private company so I don't understand how they expect to make us do this. We have a business plan which is a legally binding document. Nobody at the Town Hall and nobody in the Conservative Party can legally axe the Bluecaps just like that."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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