The Preston City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) is funding and installing three footfall cameras to monitor visitor numbers and pedestrian flow in the city centre.
Working with industry leaders Springboard, the BID has now begun collecting footfall data across the retail and night time economy areas of Fishergate and upper Church Street with a third camera due to be installed on Friargate.
The cameras will collate footfall figures on an hourly basis enabling accurate visitor data to be calculated at any time.
The data will be compiled on a monthly basis, and a report available to businesses who contribute to the BID.
The reports will show the exact number of visitors in a particular area, at a particular time, they will also highlight local events, events of national significance and weather conditions – which all impact on visitor numbers.
Chair of the city’s Retail Group, St George’s centre manager, Andrew Stringer, said: ‘many businesses collect similar data on a daily basis which assists in profiling shopper habits. We are delighted that the wider city centre can now enjoy the reporting of visitor numbers; whether they come to shop or enjoy Preston’s leisure offer’.
Chair of BID’s Preston At Night group, Evoque’s Leigh Sweetman said: I echo Andrew’s comments – the footfall counting counters and reporting platform will allow us to monitor and better measure visitor demands and behaviour, allowing our businesses to adapt, evolve and to continue to attract tens of thousands of visitors each week.
In addition to having evidential data on the city centre’s visitor performance, monthly reports will also benchmark the city centre against a regional and national backdrop.
