Town To Look Into A Business Improvement District Area

The Town Centre Forum (TCF) has requested the Council put a request forward to the Welsh Assembly to gain funding for a feasibility study into having a Business Improvement District (BID).

The idea is that businesses are levied alongside their normal business rates which the BID company, which is a formal separate company, controls the expenditure of that money. It’s a formal levy, not a voluntary system, so makes it compulsory for those inside even if they do not agree to it which some critics say is potentially undemocratic.

The TCF are looking to do a feasibility study to see if this system would work in Wrexham. The study, which is likely to cost in the region of £5000, would be funded by a grant from the Welsh Government.

“We are looking a few years down the line as even if it is possible so nothing would happen overnight,” Kevin Critchley, TCF Chair.

“A BID can be a single street or a ring road, or excluding specific areas such as Eagles Meadow”

The TCF were told of an example levy of 0.5% on those who pay over £50,000 rates in Cambridge, however the BID management company decides so figures could be different for Wrexham.

The Town Centre Manager from the Council told the TCF that typically its an extra 1% , and excludes those paying rates of £6000 and under. However in those cases people under the threshold do not get a vote, nor are on the board of the BID company.

The TCF concluded they wish to go for a study, so are asking the Council to put their name forward for some funding to make this happen.

(Members of the press along with everyone at the meeting were also asked their opinion, with the two there from Wrexham.com saying ‘if there is free money to explore the idea, why not !’)