Published: Tuesday, 9th March, 2010 12:08pm

Peebles BID first in Borders

by David O'Leary

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PEEBLES has become the first Borders town to declare its intention to develop a Business Improvement District (BID).

And has been awarded £20,000 of Scottish Government funding to help progress the project.

The scheme is being spearheaded by Positively Peebles, a project initially established by the community council aimed at improving the town centre within Peebles.

A BID (Business Improvement District) is a public-private partnership in which businesses elect to pay an additional tax in order to fund improvements to the town's public and trading environment.

Businesses pay a common maintenance fee for services that enhance the appearance of the town's common areas and provide cooperative advertising for the town and its various services.

However, before agreeing to fund the additional investment, businesses themselves decide how their money will be spent and how much they are prepared to pay.

Each business liable to contribute to the BID will then be able to vote on whether or not that BID goes ahead.

Various towns throughout Scotland such as Inverness, Dunfermline, Alloa and Falkirk have been boosted by a BID.

Peebles, the third largest town in the Borders, was voted top independent retailing town in Scotland in 2004, and has long been a popular tourist and visitor destination.

However many in the town feel that it has become a little tired in recent years as the recession has taken its toll along the High Street.

David Pye, of both Positively Peebles and Peebles Community Council said: "We believe that Peebles town centre can build on its already strong foundations and that a BID is the best model to achieve this.

"We'd like to thank the Scottish Government for providing the funding to enable us to take our next steps in developing the BID.

"Already we have had a very positive response from hundreds of businesses and we look forward to working with the local community to determine the projects and type of improvements that the BID could deliver for the town centre.

"Obviously tourism is vital for the town, so potential BID projects may include improving signage and undertaking a wide range of marketing and promotional initiatives."

He continued: "We recently produced a questionnaire for businesses and the response showed that there is a strong interest in making improvements to the town centre by means of a BID,.

"And our latest information evening was exceptionally well attended by local business representatives as well as by representatives from local community groups, the community council, Scottish Borders Council, VisitScotland and Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce."

Jeremy Purvis, MSP for Tweeddale Ettrick and Lauderdale said: "A huge amount has already gone in to bringing the issue to the table and I commend the small number of dedicated people who are thinking about what is best for Peebles.

"The award of the funding allows further work for consultation amongst businesses and the fact that the BID proposal has received the funding boost is testament to their commitment to meeting the business needs of the town. I wish them well in the next stage of the consultation."

Ian Davison Porter, Project Director BIDS Scotland concluded: "Peebles has many independent businesses, a long and impressive history and a strong tourism and visitor market with destination locations such as Glentress Forest and Traquair House being close by.

"A BID will allow businesses, in partnership with Scottish Borders Council and other groups like the Tweeddale Valley Tourism Consortium to really put Peebles on the map, improve local economic growth whilst contributing to the wider community regeneration projects.

"I believe that Peebles has the potential to be a really exciting BID and one that will lead the way for other Borders towns to follow."