Brighouse votes to extend business campaign fund

Recent events supported by Brighouse BID included a 1940s weekend

Businesses in Brighouse have voted in favour of extending its business improvement district (BID) status.

The organisation promotes the West Yorkshire town and organises events to boost trade in shops and restaurants.

It is funded by a 1.75% levy on top of the existing business rates and costs around £120,000 a year.

According to Brighouse BID, 61% of businesses that voted were in favour of extending the scheme for another five years until 2029.

The new deal would see businesses with a rateable value of above £2,000, asked to invest a levy of 1.99% in year one.

The West Yorkshire town has also hosted a Dinosaur Fortnight

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lesley Adams, co-chair of the Brighouse BID, said she welcomed the result.

"I am delighted businesses, shops and venues have seen the benefit of having the BID for our town for a further five years," she said.

"I am acutely aware that the levy paid, no matter what amount, is an additional cost on hard-pressed business owners but we will work as hard as we can to ensure by ring-fencing the money - in Brighouse, for Brighouse - each and every business sees the benefit of the BID.

"We look forward to developing and setting out more of the detailed plans from April 2024 in the coming weeks, and will also want to ensure every part of our town centre is represented in the decisions that will be taken."

Recent events included a 1940s weekend and a Dinosaur Fortnight, as well as the annual Christmas lights.