Watford's in bloom again!

Watford town centre is once again packed full of beautiful flowers thanks to Watford Business Improvement District (BID) businesses.

The floral sculptures, which will be in place until October, comprise a total of 58 floral cubes and 19 three-tiered planters. They line the pavements from outside the Cotswold building at the bottom of the High Street to the Civic Square at the top, as well as on the adjoining streets of Clarendon Road, Market Street and King Street.

A total of 27 baskets have again been placed over railings of the pond bridge and the entrance to the Town Hall underpass, plus 14 pole baskets have been attached to lampposts on the pedestrianised section of Queens Road, outside intu Watford.

Individual businesses, including Ocean Bells – the coffee shop on the lower section of the High Street, Subway on King Street, Citipark car parks and intu Watford have also got involved in Watford BID’s quest to brighten up the town centre, by purchasing their own hanging baskets from the BID company.

Kwame Tefe, chair of Watford BID, the organisation funded by town centre businesses, said: “Our beautiful flower displays lifted the town last year. Seeing couples and families having their photographs taken on the bridge against the flowers was amazing and I look forward to seeing more of the same this year as the flowers come into full bloom.”

The Watford BID flower displays complement the hanging baskets that Watford Borough Council attaches to lampposts on the High Street through its contractor Veolia, and the new floral ‘W’ that they have installed in the pond on The Parade.

The project is just part of the work Watford BID is doing to enhance the look and feel of the town centre, and this is the second year running that they have funded eye catching floral displays the length of the High Street. Other projects have included the investment in new festive lights for the town centre and Christmas switch-on event, winning the Purple Flag Award for the town centre’s night time economy, the Service Excellence Awards that celebrate the businesses who put customer service first, as well as the extensive marketing of Watford using the ‘Watford For You’ brand.

Maria Manion, Chief Executive of Watford BID said: “The work we’re doing to further improve the overall perception, ambience and appearance of the town centre, when combined with the on-going investment being made by intu Watford, Watford Borough Council and other stakeholders, will encourage growth and boost the town’s economic prosperity in the medium to long term.”

Watford BID was set up in 2016, after businesses voted on its creation in October 2015. The BID sees a diverse range of businesses in the town centre join forces for the greater good of the town; to improve the town centre so that it excels as a place to work, a place to do business, a place to shop and a place to visit. For further information about Watford BID visit the website www.watfordbid.co.uk. Alternatively visit the Watford BID offices at Suite 5 Kings Court, 153 High Street, Watford, WD17 2ER or contact them on 01923 919989 or email enquiries@watfordbid.co.uk.

(Source: Watford BID)