Plans for BID move step closer despite concerns

Out of 240 businesses around the town centre, only 76 responded to the consultation

Plans to bring a Business Improvement District (BID) to a town in Surrey have moved a step closer despite some councillors warning the costs could push companies "over the edge".

The proposal is to set up a BID in Ashford, with local firms paying a levy to fund events, extra cleaning, security and marketing.

"I think the 2.9% [levy] will just kill it dead," said Conservative Spelthorne Borough Councillor Paul Woodward.

But Councillor Howard Williams, from the Independent Spelthorne Group, said the BID was "not just about tarting the streets up", but improving the town.

Members of the business, infrastructure and growth committee agreed to move forward with the scheme at a meeting on 11 September, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Woodward said: "[Businesses] are running on such a tight budget, it will push them over the edge."

While Liberal Democrat Councillor Michele Gibson said Ashford was "not on the economic high road" currently.

"I suspect it would be more difficult to drag money out of businesses in Ashford, but I do think that the benefits will outweigh that risk," she added.

Conservative councillor Darren Clarke said many residents were frustrated with how the high street had "deteriorated".

"If this can help generate that lovely town again, I would absolutely be for it," he added.

Out of 240 businesses around Ashford town centre, 76 responded to consultation discussions around a BID.

Responses showed 42% of businesses said their performance had either reduced or remained static in the last 12 months.

On top of this, 61% said they would support testing the BID idea in a formal vote, while 31% said they were not sure, and 8% were against it.

With the council needing to pay between £40,000-£50,000 to get the project to a vote, Liberal Democrat Councillor Lawrence Nichols questioned whether it was worth the risk if businesses said no.