BID business plan approved

David O'Leary • Published 1 Jul 2011 09:30 1 Comment

SCOTTISH Borders Council has approved the business plan of Peebles' proposed Business Improvement District (BID).

The plan was ratified by councillors at Monday's Executive meeting at council headquarters.

Over the past six months Positively Peebles BID development officer Drew Moore has been busy collecting information and opinions from businesses and shoppers to determone what they think are the best aspects of Peebles and to find out which areas they identify as needing improvement.

These areas include better marketing, car parking, events, streetscape and improved safety and public transport.

Positively Peebles plan to hold a public presentation of their business plan in the Eastgate on Tuesday, July 12 at 5.30pm.

Project Director David Pye said: "I'm delighted the council approved our business proposals, the plan is still lodged with the Scottish Government, so hopefully they will approve it also.

"The whole project is definitely moving in the right direction and there is a lot of interest locally.

"I would urge any interested parties or businesses to attend the business plan presentation in the Eastgate to learn more."

A BID 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.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 01 Jul 11

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  SAYNO
  Unregistered User
  Jul 17, 00:06
  Report comment

  I would urge businesses to look at the Edinburgh BID and read the article in the Edinburgh Evening News dated 29 January 2011 before agreeing to BID. BID may just be the final nail in the coffin for some businesses that are already struggling with the recession, especially for those businesses that are paying hefty rates already.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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