Birkenhead businesses urged to vote for new BID

THREE Wirral businesses have joined forces to support the Birkenhead Improvement District (BID) programme and raise more than £2m to help regenerate the town.

The BID is a scheme where businesses within a specific area come together to fund initiatives and improvements above the level provided by the local authority.

The BID is a democratic process and all businesses siting within the qualifying area will have the choice to vote in favour of the scheme.

Three professional services firms Smith and Sons, McEwan Wallace and Hillyer McKeown, each of whom have offices in and around Hamilton Square in the heart of the town, are members of the BID steering group.

They are working closely with Wirral Chamber to champion the investment programme.

If successful, vital funds will be raised via a Bid Levy which will be applied to businesses in the local area. All of the money raised will be ring fenced for initiatives which will only benefit Birkenhead.

Alastair Gould, director of McEwan Wallace and chairman of the Birkenhead Business Improvement District said that businesses of all sizes will reap the rewards of the BID.
 
He said said: “Birkenhead BID will bring together all of our local businesses to create one voice to represent our business community.

“This would allow the BID to work with local authorities to highlight the issues that matter most to our businesses in Birkenhead.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for commercial enterprises within Birkenhead to come together and create an additional funding stream that will have a positive impact on us all.

“We are local business people and we are keen to see more investment into our town centre – that will not only enhance the area – but will also attract other businesses to work here.”
 
Carl Critchlow of Wirral Chamber added:  “Birkenhead BID would raise over £2m and is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for businesses to take the lead in regenerating Birkenhead Town Centre, I urge all businesses to back Birkenhead BID and vote ‘Yes’ for change when asked soon.”