Bidding for a better future for businesses
A major high street retailer says a market town becoming a Business Improvement District would bring a huge, positive impact.
Boots in Oswestry is one of the stores that is backing the current ballot of shop keepers and business owners over whether the it should become a BID town.
It successful it would mean all businesses within the BID area would pay a 1.74 per cent levy on their rates, brining in £1.5 million to the town over the five year life of the scheme.
The result of the ballot should be known by Friday.
Adam Shillcock, from Boots is part of the Bid steering group.
He said: "My personal involvement with BID was an absolute no-brainer when I got asked to join the steering group sometime ago. I have been fortunate to have worked across the country with Boots over the last 10 years and have only seen what a positive impact a successful BID can really bring to that community.
"From a Boots perspective it has always championed the important role high streets play at the heart of communities across the UK. Partnership and community are key to our values.
"The company believes in the importance of strong local high streets and industrial as a key driver for the future of retail in the UK, as well as the regeneration of local communities. With almost 60,000 colleagues and around 2,500 stores, we are present in almost every community.
"Over 600 of our stores have been in the same high street location for more than 30 years as have many independent businesses, whether on the industrial estate or town centre and so the both go hand in hand towards driving a thriving local economy.
"I have now settled within the town with one child attending school here and another on the way in the coming weeks so selfishly why would I not want Oswestry to be brilliant its where I intend to stay."
"I'm excited about the potential of bringing together Oswestry's business community in shaping a new economic future full of innovation and creative enterprise which really inspires and delivers real purpose and promise to the people of Oswestry."
Business have until 5pm on Thursday to vote in the BID ballot.
It will only go ahead if there is a majority in favour.
Empty buildings, vacant sites and better traffic flow and parking are just some of the priorities which the steering group says could be tackled if the BID money was available.
