Bridgnorth traders vote today on whether to sign up to Business Improvement District

The Bridgnorth Business Improvement District (BID), if voted in by traders in the town, will see firms inside the BID area pay a small tariff on their business rates, which is used to promote and improve the location for traders.

Since 2004 when the legislation was introduced, there have been more than 320 BIDs developed in the UK.

Currently Shrewsbury and Oswestry are the only Shropshire towns to have BIDs and both business communities voted to renew their BID after a successful initial five years.

Ballots in Bridgnorth went out at the end of last month to businesses in the proposed BID area, which is mainly the Town Centre - High Town and Low Town – areas.

Voting takes place today, with polls closing at 5pm and the counting of votes will take place on Friday when the declaration of results will be announced.

The BID proposal is being spearheaded by a number of Bridgnorth businesses.

A taskforce was set up to promote the scheme, featuring traders in the town, the Severn Valley Railway, the Mayor, town clerk and others.

Graeme Christie, who runs a number of businesses including the town's Green Shop and is part of the taskforce, said: “There are a number of things that BID can do for Bridgnorth.

“Firstly, the Shrewsbury BID has been very successful in liaising with Shropshire tourism and have helped make it a destination for tourism.

“Bridgnorth is a visitor town: we have the castle, funicular railway and the old town, and bringing tourists in is another thing BID can do.

“They turned the CCTV off in Bridgnorth, but the BID could reactivate it, and even hire a security officer or warden to patrol the town."

The cost, which is based on the rateable value of a company and added to business rates, will vary from a maximum of 2 per cent for larger firm, to as little as £1 a week for small traders.

Jason Coombs, who used to run two licensed premises in the town, said he got involved in the task force as Bridgnorth didn't have a Pubwatch scheme.

He said: “It is one of the things BID does in other towns, it pays for the Pubwatch scheme, but having a BID will also mean we can have someone to help coordinate all the different events in the town.”

He said if the vote gets approved, the taskforce will disband and a BID board will be formed by businesses in the town who will appoint a BID manager.

“It is not going to be the answer to everything, and I'm aware there has been some negativity from some places, but we have to try otherwise the town won't survive.”