VOTING ‘yes’ for a BID will open up a treasure chest of more than £1million for events, activities and marketing in Redditch town centre.
That’s the message from the Business Improvement District (BID) steering group which is gearing up for its crucial ballot which opens on Friday, June 28.
Steering group chair Ken Williams is clear about the benefits of backing the Revitalise Redditch BID.
“Redditch is surrounded by BIDs in neighbouring town centres, including Stratford, Worcester, Solihull and Northfield,” he said.
“Redditch is at risk of being left behind if it doesn’t take action.”
The steering group has produced a business plan based on feedback from local businesses and this is now being put out for consultation.
“I thought the over-riding issue from businesses would be ‘how much it was going to cost me?’ but instead it’s a recognition that something needs to be done and how are we going to do it,” said Ken.
“It’s also important to realise that the business plan isn’t set in stone and there is still opportunity to influence the shape and content of the BID.
“So far we’ve had 95 per cent positive feedback and five per cent negative but those negatives have energised us because we want the BID to tackle the concerns of businesses.
“We encourage businesses to come to us and tell us what we need to do because everyone needs to have a voice.
“It’s about the health and wellbeing of this place and how much we can put into it because we cannot sit back and say this is someone else’s job.”
The BID already has the backing of the borough council.
Councillor Matt Dormer, the council leader, said: “This Bid shows business is at the core of what we do and we want to help it thrive.”
The levy for the proposed Revitalise Redditch BID will be two per cent of a premises’s rateable value.
For the smallest businesses this will cost a daily equivalent of just 82p a day.
That money will be spent on promoting the town centre, events and marketing opportunities to bring more people and businesses to Redditch.
The ballot on the Bid is open for four weeks and closes on July 25.
More details of the BID can be found at www.redditchbid.co.uk
