Southend traders vote to become Business Improvement District

12:34pm Friday 23rd November 2012 in Local News By Emma Thomas

Southend town centre and seafront has voted an overwhelming ‘Yes’ to becoming a self-governing Business Improvement District (BID).

 

Turnout in the ballot was 49% with 92% of businesses by number voting in favour and 84% in favour by size. With businesses emphatically giving their backing to the scheme, it now means that they will have the power to choose where their money is invested to improve services, so attracting more customers to the town centre and the seafront.

A fund of up to £2.7 million will now be available across four areas of investment drawn directly from suggestions made by the business involved - Improving Town Safety, Winning New Customers, Raising Standards and Working for Businesses.

The money will be invested over the five year lifetime of the BID, starting from April 2013.

The Southend BID project has been led by the Town Centre Partnership.

Chairman Dawn Jeakings said: “This is absolutely fantastic news and will ensure that Southend can enjoy an even brighter future. I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated in the ballot resulting in them voting ‘yes’ by a majority to our plans. I would also like to thank all people who have worked tirelessly to help make the BID become a reality.” 

Comments (6)

4:44pm Fri 23 Nov 12

Olivia2847 says...

Hope it is a success! If this has anything to do with the Council, they couldn't even run a bath let alone an initiative like this ...
Hope it is a success! If this has anything to do with the Council, they couldn't even run a bath let alone an initiative like this ... Olivia2847

4:50pm Fri 23 Nov 12

GrumpyofLeigh says...

Whose money? "Their money"? Sure it isn't "our (ie ratepayers and taxpayers) money"?
Whose money? "Their money"? Sure it isn't "our (ie ratepayers and taxpayers) money"? GrumpyofLeigh

4:52pm Fri 23 Nov 12

jolllyboy says...

Is this meant to encourage us to go there. Stop the crime there would be a start.
Is this meant to encourage us to go there. Stop the crime there would be a start. jolllyboy

5:01pm Fri 23 Nov 12

benfleet101 says...

GrumpyofLeigh wrote:
Whose money? "Their money"? Sure it isn't "our (ie ratepayers and taxpayers) money"?
Actually it's money the businesses vote to pay themselves and it's over and above their normal business rates - so technically it could be said it is their money.
[quote][p][bold]GrumpyofLeigh[/bold] wrote: Whose money? "Their money"? Sure it isn't "our (ie ratepayers and taxpayers) money"?[/p][/quote]Actually it's money the businesses vote to pay themselves and it's over and above their normal business rates - so technically it could be said it is their money. benfleet101

7:05pm Fri 23 Nov 12

GrumpyofLeigh says...

Thank you, Benfleet101, for that assurance that this is a voluntary pot created by the businesses without any public money being involved - in which case they can do as they please.
Strange though, I thought they were all pleading poverty.
Thank you, Benfleet101, for that assurance that this is a voluntary pot created by the businesses without any public money being involved - in which case they can do as they please. Strange though, I thought they were all pleading poverty. GrumpyofLeigh

10:35am Sat 24 Nov 12

Olivia2847 says...

More importantly Noddy the Editor, why is the David Cameron EU story a closed article - disgraceful....
More importantly Noddy the Editor, why is the David Cameron EU story a closed article - disgraceful.... Olivia2847

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