Back in April we reported how local traders in Ruddington began exploring innovative new ways they might work together to attract more residents and visitors to use our village centre.
The Ruddington Village Centre Partnership (RVCP) was formed after the sudden and unexpected closure of Thomas’s the greengrocers prompted an extraordinary meeting of Ruddington Parish Council – resulting in numerous business people and concerned residents coming together to volunteer their help in whatever ways they could.
Councillor Ian Wilson, who’s co-ordinating the partnership, told us: “Over the past couple of months the group has explored a number of possible options around finding a replacement greengrocers for the village. Whilst there have been some good conversations nothing has yet emerged – we are still looking. We currently have five working groups, each of which is encouraged to develop plans and then share them back to our steering group.”
The idea of a loyalty card for shopping in Ruddington is progressing. RUDDINGTON.info is pleased to announce that we are now working with The Local Card Group to provide future website and social media promotion for all the businesses enrolled in the RVCP scheme including their regularly changing special offers. We’ll also be developing a new and expanded version of Ruddington’s printed #RuddyGoodDayOut Guide alongside NCT Buses to incorporate these traders, too. Ian says: “We hope to launch the card this Autumn – and the promotion group is focused on a “shop local” campaign which will be launched alongside the Local Card.”
There’s also a Market Group exploring the feasibility of setting up a regular market in Ruddington – and a dedicated Parking Group. The latter is newly formed and is looking at the thorny issue of village centre parking as a whole – working on a proposal RVCP can share with the community and the Councils which meets the needs of businesses, residents and visitors.
A Community Shop Group is looking at the possibility of a resident run retail outlet – selling products not available (or no longer available) from existing businesses..
Ian adds: “We are all volunteers and are keen to welcome anyone with a particular interest in joining any of these working groups. The focus is on making a difference not meetings – though there WILL be plenty of those!”
If you have an idea for a working group to address a topic in Ruddington Village Centre which you feel has not yet been covered, you’re encouraged to get in touch with RVCP via cooperate29@gmail.com.
