Spalding Business Improvement District pushes on after South Holland District Council reveals it voted in favour
Work to help boost the fortunes of a town will be getting underway this month following a dramatic vote, in which the council helped win the day.
Spalding Business Improvement District is hoped to the catalyst to bring about increased footfall and other changes to the town after organisers have promised that it could raise £1 million in five years.
The organisation, which is partly funded by a levy on businesses, will be meeting before this month is out to discuss the next steps following the tight postal ballot in which just one vote swung the result.
Chairman of the Spalding Business Board, Craig Delaney, is now urging firms in the town centre to get involved with the organisation.
He said: “A meeting had been called at the end of this month to discuss and agree next steps for the BID process, which will include a post ballot communication with all of the town centre businesses as well as setting up the BID company and making all the necessary arrangements regarding staffing, insurances, banking and focus on the initial projects referred to in the BID proposal.
“So, lots to do and we're hoping to encourage as many of the town centre businesses to get involved and be part of this process to ensure effective governance and maximum benefit to the town centre and its users.”
It has been revealed that 18 votes were cast in favour of creating a BID by South Holland District Council - which owns that number of rateable properties within the town centre.
Leader of the district council, Nick Worth, said that it was important for businesses to be able to shape the future of the town.
He said: “I am delighted to see the BID receive support from town centre businesses, and believe it can make a real difference for Spalding as a place to live, work and visit.
“Nobody understands the challenges and opportunities the town is faced with better than the businesses who are based there and who depend upon it. Bringing their value and knowledge to the process will help to attract new funding, deliver additional initiatives and events, reduce business costs through joint procurement and by combating anti-social behaviour and crime, and create a unified group to work closely with partners like ourselves, the County Council and Lincolnshire Police.
“Working alongside the council’s ongoing projects, the Levelling Up funding for the Castle Sports Complex and the new Spalding Town Board, we have never had more support and expertise in place to help shape and protect the town’s future, and I can’t wait to see these exciting projects continue to move forward together over the coming months and years.”
Among the projects the BID want to deliver are reducing anti-social behaviour, improve landscaping, promote markets, introduce a loyalty scheme for Spalding shoppers and develop walking trails around the town.
A previous attempt to set-up a BID in Spalding was rejected by traders a decade ago.
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