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BID ballot results announced...

BID ballot results announced

Businesses in Bury St Edmunds have given a second resounding vote of confidence in the work of Our Bury St Edmunds, the town’s Business Improvement District (BID). A ballot to give the organisation another five years in which it has pledged to make the town ‘even better for business’ saw 84% of those who took part vote YES.

Chairman of the BID’s Board of Directors Andrew Speed said: “This is excellent news for Bury St Edmunds and I’d like to thank the businesses in the town centre for this show of support. The BID is run by a small team who have worked incredibly hard over the last ten years to increase footfall, run some excellent events and work with partner agencies on issues such as parking and safety.”

Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds, Mark Cordell, added: “This fantastic result means that we can now build upon the achievements of ten successful years of the BID and achieve even more for the town and our businesses by working collaboratively with other key stakeholders. We have consistently seen Bury St Edmunds doing comparatively well against other towns, despite the challenges which are affecting high streets up and down the country. The BID will continue to work to carry this momentum forward because there is no room for complacency as we strive to retain the prosperity of the town.”

Just over 400 businesses in the town centre were eligible to vote in the ballot. More than 30 businesses, who do not have voting rights, have joined the BID as voluntary members.

Since it came into effect in 2010 the BID has provided additional services and support to businesses, beyond those supplied by public authorities. These have included major events and marketing Bury St Edmunds and all it offers. It’s kept the town centre looking good by partnering other agencies to provide more hanging baskets, more litter bins and a free graffiti removal service for its members. It also works closely with the tourism organisation Bury St Edmunds and Beyond to attract more visitors to the town.

The BID organises some of the town’s biggest events including the Whitsun Fayre, the Food and Drink Festival and the Christmas Lights Switch On earlier this month. It negotiated the introduction of free parking after 3pm on a Tuesday and pressed for the pay on exit parking scheme currently being trialled in the town centre.

Notes for Editors: Our Bury St Edmunds is one of over 300 Business Improvement Districts in the UK. It was established in April 2010 to provide a number of additional services to improve the trading environment of the town centre. It is funded by levy paying businesses within the town centre and works with other agencies, including local authorities and the police, to enhance existing services for the town including marketing and promotion, safety, cleanliness and maintenance. In 2014 it won a ballot of member businesses to continue for a second five year term from 2015. For further information visit www.ourburystedmunds.com

For media information please contact Our Bury St Edmunds Chief Executive Mark Cordell on 01284 766258 or Press and PR Consultant Clare Phillips on tel: 07947 105414 /email: office@clarephillipsmedia.co.uk