Business improvement district plan rejected by Bridgnorth's firms

The town's firms voted against the proposal by 67 to 39.

Posting on her Love Bridgnorth Facebook page Sally Themans, who had supported the plan said she respected the decision and would look forward to alternative ideas from the town's business community.

Had it been approved businesses inside the BID area would be required to pay a tariff on their business rates - two per cent of their rateable value annually.

That money would then have been used to promote the town, and try and improve the area.

BIDs have previously been established in Shrewsbury and Oswestry.

An update following the vote from Love Bridgnorth said: "Bridgnorth businesses have been given the option to vote, throughout November, as to whether they think the town centre should form a Business Improvement District, or BID.

"Whilst members of the public expressed views about this proposal, the decision was purely the prerogative of the businesses within the BID area.

"This included large national chains as well as small independent retail, hospitality and service businesses and charities (who have a rateable value of over £2,500) who would have made a financial contribution to the BID.

"The Printworks Co-working space where we are based would also have been a levy payer, and, having seen the additional funding and benefits towns with BIDs such as Shrewsbury and Oswestry have been able to access and the projects to boost footfall going on in these towns, I believed that this would have brought 'bigger picture' benefits to Bridgnorth so was prepared to pay a levy for these opportunities to improve our town.

"I completely respect the democratic process and the decision of the Bridgnorth businesses that a BID is not desired by the majority as a way for us to move our town forward.

"I look forward to alternative solutions from the business community to help our town during these testing economic times.

"What is important is that we, as a business community and as a wider community, continue to work together to make Bridgnorth the very best it can be."

Speaking before the vote Graeme Christie, who was a member of the BID taskforce and runs a number of businesses including the town's Green Shop, had said the scheme could provide big benefits for the town.

He said: “There are a number of things that BID can do for Bridgnorth. Firstly, the Shrewsbury BID has been very successful in liaising with Shropshire tourism and have helped make it a destination for tourism.

“Bridgnorth is a visitor town: we have the castle, funicular railway and the old town, and bringing tourists in is another thing BID can do. They turned the CCTV off in Bridgnorth, but the BID could reactivate it, and even hire a security officer or warden to patrol the town."