Wrexham misses out on Business Improvement District funding – Mold & Llangollen will benefit

Wrexham has missed out a share of £260,000 funding from Welsh Government as local businesses have not got their act together to access the pot of money.

Ten partnerships will share over part of the £260k of Welsh Government funding to explore establishing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Wales, to boost the local economy and to support regeneration efforts.

A BID is based around a geographic area with a small extra tax levied and ringfenced to be spent by an independent BID company made up of businesses taking part – the idea being a collective generates and spends the money how they see fit. A BID can be formed after a vote, and if passed can effectively be enforced on those who voted against or did not take part in the vote with some seeing it as undemocratic.

As we reported in 2013 the Town Centre Forum requested that Wrexham Council put forward a request for funding from the Welsh Government to pay for a feasibility study for a BID in Wrexham. The request was kicked off by then Chairman Kevin Critchley, with the idea seemingly dropping off the radar under the chairmanship of Nigel Lewis, and more lately Alex Jones. It is possible the private ‘Steering Group’ have had more recent detailed updates, however that has not been shared with Forum attendees. In 2016 we wrote how then Cllr Neil Rogers told us after the initial question  ‘several hundred letters’ were written to local businesses to gauge the appetite for a Wrexham BID however ‘nearly no responses’ were received, but there has been no further progress we are aware of.

We have written about town centre improvement spending and compared it to a BID set up in Chester, which sees a sizeable chunk of funding reinvested every year.

In Friday’s Welsh Government announcement, they outline possible spending of BID cash ‘could include marketing, promotion and events, car parking, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving access to towns, or work to make the area more vibrant and viable’.

The towns receiving funding as part of the current Welsh Government programme are:

Brecon
Llangollen
Newtown
Barry
Port Talbot
Treorchy
Aberdare
Mold

Funding is also being provided to Newport for an ICT and digital-focused BID and to Ebbw Vale for a BID focused on industry linked to the Enterprise Zone. Sector BIDs across the UK are increasing in number, and Welsh Government is keen to ensure they are encouraged in Wales.

Minister for Housing and Regeneration Rebecca Evans said: “We are seeing BIDs make a real difference to town centres across Wales, but setting them up takes time, effort and support, which is why we provide Welsh Government funding to get them off the ground.

“We are committed to creating lasting economic change in the South Wales Valleys through our Valleys Taskforce, and I hope the BID proposals in Aberdare, Treorchy, Port Talbot and Ebbw Vale, will play a significant role in this.

“BIDs can help to revitalise our town centres and promote regeneration. We have seen existing BIDs delivering increased street cleaning initiatives, tackling antisocial behaviour, reducing crime, offering bespoke business training courses and hosting numerous events and festivals.”

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “Collectively, the 8 BIDs created in the last programme have generated over £5 million private investment to support their chosen activities. This is a significant return on our investment, helping drive local economic development and supporting our Welsh high streets.

“I am particularly pleased to see 2 innovative proposals come forward. The proposal from Ebbw Vale aligns with the broader work of the Enterprise Zone in that area and complements other initiatives, including the £100 million Tech Valleys Initiative.

“In Newport I am keen to see how a BID focused on the ICT and digital sectors can help support our more regionally focused approach to economic development.”