Key vote to decide future of the Melton BID

Hundreds of businesses are to be balloted on whether or not to renew the Melton Business Improvement District (BID) which is claimed will generate £750,000 to invest in Melton town centre over the next five years.
The Melton Town Guide App which was launched last year, providing a wealth of information at visitors' fingertips, is just one of the initiatives which has been supported by the Melton BID EMN-160518-135726001The Melton Town Guide App which was launched last year, providing a wealth of information at visitors' fingertips, is just one of the initiatives which has been supported by the Melton BID EMN-160518-135726001
The Melton Town Guide App which was launched last year, providing a wealth of information at visitors' fingertips, is just one of the initiatives which has been supported by the Melton BID EMN-160518-135726001

The Melton BID is an organisation which seeks to enhance the vitality of the town centre, raising its profile as a tourist and shopping destination, as well as reducing business costs through schemes.

Key projects and schemes which the BID has delivered over the last five years include the multi-faceted Think Melton Shop Melton campaign which has aimed to encourage local residents and employees to shop locally, through targeted marketing campaigns, to benefit town centre businesses.

Other initiatives it has launched include BID for Business, aiming to cut business costs through a range of schemes including a free trade recycling scheme for over 250 BID businesses, free business social media training, a business support grant scheme and car parking initiatives such as Free After Three which aims to boost Melton’s evening economy.

Another BID project, the Visitor Enhancement Scheme, aims to promote Melton’s heritage and visitor experience including by building upon the success of annual events such as the British Pie Awards and the Victorian Christmas Fair.

Later this year all of the 443 businesses which are within the BID boundary area will be asked to vote on whether or not to renew the BID which will have completed its first five-year term in November.

Ahead of that crucial vote town centre businesses are now being asked to fill in surveys, giving their views on the BID and its work, with the feedback helping to shape the town’s future and the BID’s plans to build upon its successes over the next five years.

The Melton BID is funded by businesses within its boundary area paying a one-and-a-half per cent levy of their rateable value. Those with a rateable value of £6,999 and under pay a £100 levy per year.

This money can only be spent within the BID area on projects and services agreed and voted upon within a business plan.

A brochure delivered to BID businesses along with the survey forms says: “If you choose for the BID not to continue or just don’t take part in the review and vote then all the work and achievements so far will cease.

“Only you, the local businesses, can enable us to continue to compete with changing trends and an increasing online presence. To be both progressive and aspirational for our businesses and our town, vote ‘yes’ again for Melton BID.

“There’s now a very real chance to invest over £750,000 over the next five years to maintain the firm foundations we have laid and build upon them. Together we can share our aspirations for Melton and take real steps to sustain confidence, improve footfall, increase sales, reduce business costs and diversity our offer to visitors and shoppers.”

l For more information about the Melton BID visit www.meltonbid.co.uk

Related topics: