Chester BID result due next week

The vote on whether Chester will have a business improvement district is due to close on Monday, with the announcement on whether the proposal has been successful expected on Tuesday 1 July.

The ballot closes on Monday 30 June at 5pm, however postal ballot votes are encouraged to submit their responses by Friday 27 June.

The vote focused on 509 businesses in the area which are being asked whether they are willing to contribute a 1% levy on top of business rates.

The BID plan, which is being proposed by the CH1 Chester BID team, is backed by Debenhams, Marks & Spencer, Primark, Grosvenor Shopping Centre and the Chester Grosvenor Hotel.

Paul Daniels, chairman of CH1 Chester BID, said: "We've had fantastic support from businesses of all shapes and sizes but there's no room for complacency. We know that ballots in other cities have come down to just a handful of votes, so it is vitally important that BID businesses vote 'Yes' and don't rely on others to bring a BID to Chester.

"Without the BID, Chester will continue to fall further behind its competitors until it ends up being forgotten. We can't let that happen, but we're running out of time to stop it. If the BID fails there won't be another attempt. There is no plan B, this really is our last chance to create a more sustainable future for our city and we need every 'Yes' vote we can get to make it possible."

If the plans get the go-ahead, the BID team said that around £2.5m of private sector investment would be created over the next five years and reinvested back into Chester city centre, through initiatives such as better events, marketing, and lobbying for improved car parking rules and later shop opening hours.

To get approval, the ballot requires a 'Yes' vote from at least 51% of all those who vote. In addition, 'Yes' voters must represent at least 51% of the total rateable value of all the businesses who vote. Only businesses with a rateable value of over £18,000 are eligible to vote.

The BID area includes:

  • Hunter Street
  • Princess Street
  • Northgate Street
  • Watergate Street
  • St Werburg Street
  • Eastgate Street
  • Frodsham Street
  • Frodsham Square
  • Foregate Street
  • Bridge Street
  • Pepper Street
  • St John Street
  • Godstall Lane
  • The Forum Shopping Centre
  • Grosvenor Shopping Centre

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