Primark on board with Chester BID

The manager of Primark's Chester branch has been appointed as vice chairman of the city's proposed Business Improvement District.

Eryl Edwards has taken up the position on the board of the CH1 Chester BID Company, a group of Chester businesses working to raise millions of pounds to fund wide-ranging improvements in the city.

The role will involve supporting chairman of the board Paul Daniels, who is managing director of listings and business directory service The Best of Chester, and also bridging the gap between the board and businesses in the BID area.

Primark has previously supported BIDs in other towns and cities, including Liverpool.

Edwards said: "What the CH1 Chester BID aims to do is bring together the businesses in the defined BID area to maximise the collective power we have and take control of the commercial environment we are all working in.

"The power of having large businesses such as Primark and Marks & Spencer backing the BID is beneficial to all the businesses in the area. The small businesses have powerful allies who can give them a voice, while we can combine our knowledge and influence to make sure we are all running our businesses as effectively as possible."

In June 2014 businesses within a designated area of Chester city centre will be asked to vote on whether to pay a 1% levy on top of their business rates, which will contribute towards the improvements proposed by the BID.