SOLIHULL Business Improvement District – BID – will run for another five years after vote of confidence from town centre businesses who voted overwhelmingly in favour of the scheme which was launched in 2009.
The results were announced on Friday (November 7) by Solihull Council which acted as returning officer for the ballot. Turnout was high at 48 per cent with 72 per cent of voters giving the BID a resounding ‘yes’.
Andy Cole, Chairman of Solihull BID said: “This is a great vote of confidence in the hard work and dedication of the BID team who have sought to balance the often extremely diverse needs of the 488 BID levy payers, creating events, projects and campaigns which improve the town centre as a place to work, visit and do business.
“Over the past five years the BID has introduced the Town Hosts – who have made a significant difference in driving down retail crime and connecting businesses together through the retail radio network; created popular visitor events and campaigns including the annual Jazz and Taste festivals, the new Christmas entertainment programme and Market and of course they launched the Business Exchange Card which has been held up as an example of excellence amongst all UK BIDS and is used by more than 30,000 people in the town.
“The town centre is a stronger and better connected place because of the BID and I am delighted to be leading the BID Board into a second five-year term which will allow us to build upon the successes of the first five years and also introduce new projects to improve Solihull town centre for those who live, work or visit here.”
