Proposed Bridgnorth Business Improvement District Encounters Local Opposition

An initiative to establish a new business organization in a town, intended to boost visitor numbers, has encountered opposition from certain businesses due to the additional expense. Proponents of the Bridgnorth Business Improvement District (BID) concept stated that it would also enhance the town’s safety. BID frameworks promote greater collaboration among businesses and provide opportunities for funding access. However, some local residents questioned its necessity, particularly in the context of the ongoing cost of living crisis. Helen Rutter, representing Elegance Clothing Agency, commented: “With the cost of everything that’s rising, things are getting harder.” She added, “So with us being put forward for the BID and having to pay another outgoing, I just don’t want to be part of that.” Johnny Themans, a businessman and member of the BID task group, stated that all relevant parties had received written communication, public meetings had taken place, and the initiative was projected to generate £1m over five years for investment in the town. The group emphasized the importance of a unified voice for prosperity and noted that three-quarters of businesses would contribute under £1 daily. The proposal entails a contribution equivalent to 2% of a trader’s rateable value; for instance, a shop paying £20,000 in annual business rates would incur an additional £400 for the BID. Should traders approve the proposal by the deadline of midnight on Thursday night, businesses subject to business rates would be required to make annual contributions. Ian Moore, from Wild Heart Bridgnorth clothing shop, indicated he voted against it, stating: “I think what they’re doing is basically the same thing the council should be doing.” He further remarked, “I don’t see the point of paying for things twice.” Emma Rutter, the owner of Whitburn Coffee House, who cast a ‘no’ vote, mentioned she did not “know anything about it until the ballot papers come through.” She elaborated, “I think the lowest is £352 a year, which doesn’t sound a lot… [It’s a] drop in the ocean for certain big businesses, but not to us.” Several businesses reported not having received ballot papers. Mr. Themans commented: “Getting round and speaking to everybody has not…been possible for us and we’ve gone into lots of shops and not everybody’s always in there at that time.” He continued, “We don’t know everybody in the town.” He concluded, “I think some people maybe aren’t tuned on to what’s going on around them quite as much, so I think it’s a bit of shared responsibility. We’ve really tried to get that out there.” For additional content, BBC Shropshire can be followed on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Details concerning our approach to external linking are available.