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Taunton has become the first town in the South West and one of
only 20 in the country to now go for Business Improvement District
(BID) status, following a successful pilot scheme.
BIDs are a relatively recent phenomenon, initiated by the
government to encourage businesses to regenerate their trading
environments in ways they choose themselves, by working together.
“I’m thrilled that Taunton was selected,” said Lucy Ball, Taunton
Town Centre Manager, who is leading the BID process under the
Department for Community and Local Government’s (DCLG) guidance.
As a first move in the BID process, nearly 700 information brochures
have recently gone out to businesses in parts of central Taunton.
Twenty-eight towns and cities from Blackpool to Lincoln to Plymouth
have successfully gone through the BID process in a pilot scheme and
now another 20 have been chosen by the DCLG to take it forward.
Taunton is the only town in the South West among these, along with
an area of Bristol. Neighbours Plymouth and Bristol Broadmead are
already successful BID areas and Swindon is going through the
process.
“We still have a way to go before businesses themselves vote on
becoming a BID next year, but I think we’ve got what it takes to get
there,” said Lucy Ball.
Although Taunton has enjoyed relative prosperity and consistent
trading performance in recent years, businesses now face greater
competition than ever from revitalised neighbouring cities,
shoppers’ increased mobility, customer choice and Internet shopping,
she believes.
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“Taunton itself is due to change greatly over the coming decade and
we will have to maintain and improve the quality of shopper and
visitor experience during this regeneration work, if we hope to stay
ahead.”
As part of the BID process, group meetings and consultation will
take place throughout the coming year and a Business Development
Plan created from these.
Businesses which fall within the proposed BID area will choose
themselves what improvements they want to see, as it will be their
investment, paid for by a small levy.
These could range from cleaner streets and extra security to festive
events and night-time taxi wardens.
The funding, which will total no higher than two per cent of a
business’s rateable value, can also then be used to source matched
funding from elsewhere.
Experience of the 28 pilot cities and towns nationally which have
already developed BIDs, has proved extremely successful.
“This is a real opportunity, a very important initiative to maintain
and develop our town as a quality shopping destination,” said Lucy
Ball.
For further information please contact Lucy Ball, Town Centre
Manager and Chairman of BID Taunton, on 01823 354299, or visit
www.tauntontowncentre.co.uk
For more information about BIDs please see
www.ukbids.org.
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