St Peters BID back from the dead

Businesses in Derby’s St Peters Quarter have voted to re-establish the area as a Business Improvement District (BID).

The ballot saw a turnout of 48.4% with 67.4% of votes in favour judged by rateable value and 59.2% were in favour by number.

Last July the BID was disbanded after voters in the area where split down the middle on whether it should continue.

The new ballot was open to businesses occupying or owning premises with a rateable value of £12,000 – reflecting the increase in small business rates relief in the forthcoming financial year – and did not include businesses in the Eagle Market and Theatre Walk given the imminent transfer in ownership of these sites to Intu.

St Peters Quarter BID will commence operations on April 1 with a budget of £1m over its five year term.

St Peters Quarter Board chair Helen Wathall is managing director of family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son in Macklin Street.

She said: “I am very relieved and of course delighted that the re-ballot has been successful. We now have the mandate to work together as businesses and with our partners to tackle the issues that we in St Peters Quarter and visitors to the area all face.

“Our fellow businesses have been increasingly worried about the situation in the area since the last BID programme ceased, particularly with increased crime and anti-social behaviour and a distinct lack of cohesion and direction.

“Businesses have engaged enthusiastically in the consultation and planning for the next five years and we are grateful for the time that individuals have devoted and particularly to our project management company Partnerships for Better Business who have coordinated this process.

“Business confidence for the future in the St Peters Quarter BID is strong and this plan provides us with a clear direction and a new exciting era for this important part of the city centre.”