Published: Wednesday, 3rd September, 2008 12:30
Business BID for brighter future
By Iain Robertson
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The proposed Business Improvement District will create the opportunity to enhance and promote all the businesses in the Alloa Town Centre area.
ALLOA Town Centre could be a vote away from securing a major investment to transform its future.
Ballot papers seeking approval to make Alloa Town Centre a Business Improvement District (BID) are now in the hands of local businesses – and a ‘yes’ vote would release £600,000 over the next five years to enhance the central area of the town.
The Clackmannanshire Business team based at Kilncraigs has been working tirelessly on the Alloa BID.
Fraser McKee, Alloa Town Centre BID co-ordinator, said, “Being part of the BID team has shown me that Alloa town centre is good but has the potential to be great with a cohesive pull in the same positive direction by all the businesses in the BID area.
“By doing this, the town centre will not only be a good place to do business, to trade and to shop, but by addressing security issues and positive promotion of the town centre, Alloa can have something locals can be truly proud of – a safe, secure and vibrant centre.”
Established
Already, Clackmannanshire Business has helped deliver one BID in the Wee County, establishing the first commercial BID in Scotland.
Eighty-five per cent of businesses in Clackmannanshire’s 10 business parks voted in favour of establishing a BID. Now operating as a limited company, ClacksFirst Ltd, this is delivering benefits to members in the form of £110,000 per annum to be spent on business park regeneration.
And Clackmannanshire Business is confident a similar ‘yes’ vote from businesses in Alloa town centre will also provide the opportunity to develop and enhance the area for the benefit of all.
Andrew Mitchell, the BID Project leader, Andrew Mitchell, told the Advertiser, “The Alloa Town Centre BID offers an exciting new set of proposals which I am positive will benefit all businesses within the BID area.
“The advantages of a Business Improvement district is that it gives power to local businesses and organisations, enabling them to make decisions which will shape their own trading environment, making Alloa responsive to changes in market conditions.”
Ballot papers were sent to those eligible to vote yesterday (Wednesday) and they should be returned to the Electoral Reform Services no later than 5pm on Wednesday 15 October.
If a majority vote in favour, a town centre BID company will be constituted, and a board of directors elected.
Individual businesses within the BID area and one senior officer from Clackmannanshire Council will form the board. All board members will have equal voting rights and will be required to make strategic decisions on behalf of Alloa’s businesses at each board meeting. Additionally, the board will also include a senior officer from Central Scotland Police who will not have any voting rights.
The board will represent the needs and interests of over 250 businesses contained within the BID area.
Unlike preceding Town Centre initiatives, the BID will have the power to raise and collect money, something that has never been possible in Scotland until the passing of the Business Improvement District Legislation 2007.
Projects
All town centre businesses will pay a levy, which will will be collected on behalf of the BID company by Clackmannanshire Council. These funds – £110,000 per year – will then be used by the board to finance projects that are recognised and agreed as being important to the development and success of Alloa Town Centre.
Proposals already suggested in a survey by Clackmannanshire Business of shop owners and shoppers included regular events like farmers markets, an increased police presence and improved parking.
Further proposals include:
• a shop front improvement scheme
• a uniform branding scheme for Alloa and the outlying villages
• cleaner streets
• regular street events
• improved functional street furniture
• a town centre manager
• targeted business support
• national and local marketing campaigns to increase footfall and average sales.
If the BID is approved, the first improvements are likely by the end of this year when a special Christmas event will be held to launch a new era of prosperity for Alloa.
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