×

FOOT TRAFFIC MONITORING TO BE USED IN NORTH NOTTS TOWNS TO HELP WITH SOCIAL DISTANCING

Wifi

TOWNS across North Nottinghamshire will be using the latest space monitoring technology to show shoppers how busy local high streets are before making the journey into town as retail units begin to re-open throughout June.

North Notts BID will offer people the opportunity to access information through a Safe Space Indicator, which will monitor how busy town centres are in Worksop and Retford.

The website will utilise the BID’s Geosense mobile data and apply a simple traffic light system to indicate how many people are in various parts of the town, acting as an early warning system for potential visitors.

The fully anonymised and GDPR-compliant service is delivered by ElephantWiFi, who has also provided the BID’s incredibly popular town centre Wi-Fi service, which saw more than 140,000 connections last year in Worksop alone.

Sally Gillborn, chief executive at North Notts BID, said: “When non-essential retail is able to re-open, we want everyone to be able to visit our towns while feeling as safe as possible. Social distancing is going to continue to be of paramount importance, so monitoring footfall in this way will allow us to keep an eye on where there may be potential issues and give peace of mind to visitors.

“The businesses in the district have reacted incredibly to the challenges that Covid-19 has presented, and we want to do everything we can to support them as we begin to return to some semblance of normality.”

Dan Coombs from ElephantWiFi, said: “The platform is designed to allow BIDs and place managers to share information with the public about how busy specific areas are. The idea is that someone can check the website and see the state of play in whichever town they are looking to visit, and then make an informed decision on when and how to make the trip.”

To find out more about North Notts BID, visit northnottsbid.co.uk.

Ends

For more information contact nancy@cartwrightcommunications.co.uk or call 0115 853 2110 to speak to Rose Hayes, Tom Snee or Nancy Collins-Burgess.

Notes to editors

North Notts BID is the UK’s first ever district-wide, place-shaping BID. The BID is designed to give businesses within the Bassetlaw district of North Nottinghamshire a real opportunity to pool significant funds and make a real difference to the future of the region.

The North Notts BID at a glance:

  • An initiative that’s 100% business-led and business managed
  • A pioneering, proactive and cohesive approach to driving prosperity through shared experience, common objectives, and the pooling of resources resulting in a united front and an unprecedented collective business voice
  • Delivering tangible improvements across a wide range of activities and developing effective and lasting partnerships.

For more information contact North Notts BID Chief Executive Sally Gillborn sally.gillborn@northnottsbid.co.uk