Businesses set to vote on Bradford BID proposals
More than 630 businesses across Bradford will today start to vote on the city’s BID project, which would deliver £2.5m of improvements over five years.
The Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) goes to a ballot today and votes must be cast by October 11. More than 630 businesses and other city-centre based organisations will be asked to vote in favour of a levy of up to 1.25% on their business rates.
The proceeds would be spent on four key “pillars” – Safe, Clean, Alive and Promoted – to improve the safety, cleanliness, vitality and marketing of Bradford’s retail heart.
The Bradford BID project has received support from a number of stakeholders.
Catherine Riley, who has been centre manager at Kirkgate Shopping for more than 24 years, said the BID was a brilliant way to rally the city’s business voices to get the best for Bradford. “It’s essential that we work together because we all want the same thing, which is the best for Bradford,” she said.
“We make our livelihoods from it, all the people that work in the centre of Bradford make their livelihoods from it, and we deserve the best for it.”
Andrew Chalmers, the chairman and co-owner of Bradord Bulls, added: “The city of Bradford and the various businesses and stakeholders within it have proudly supported the Bulls for many years and we are only too happy to take any opportunity we have to return that support for such an exciting project as the BID.
“We are a proud community in Bradford and our success in future will be as a result of co-operation and the combining of all the fantastic business and community assets we have for the greater benefit of the city.
“A vibrant and cohesive central business district is fundamental to the growth of any City and so we fully support the BID concept.”
Ian Ward, chairman of the Bradford BID development board, who also ran a BID in Liverpool before moving across the Pennines to take on the role of general manager at The Broadway shopping centre, said: “For businesses to thrive in city centres these days they need footfall and you can only bring in visitors, shoppers and workers – let alone attract new business and investment – if the city centre feels safe, if it looks clean and tidy, if it is vibrant and buzzing with leisure opportunities and you are marketing all of that to the outside world as well as to your local customer and employment base.”
He said Bradford was no different to any other town or city in that respect but it had arrived at a point where it was poised to take the next step.
“We are completely realistic about the challenges facing the high street; we know cities have to reinvent themselves and aim to become much more rounded as leisure destinations and meeting places,” added Ward.
“And Bradford has taken huge steps in the right direction: City Park is a resounding success, the National Science and Media Museum has been revamped and is a fantastic asset with growing visitor numbers.
“The Alhambra continues to be one of the best – and best-attended – theatres in the North; St George’s Hall is a fabulous and highly-regarded concert hall that will soon be back in action and we have Bradford Live to look forward to as well as vastly-improved rail facilities a little way further off. The city centre is perfectly primed for the sorts of benefits a BID can bring.”
