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First project world wide to incorporate property owners
Inverness businesses voted
to play a leading role in the transformation of the city centre by creating a
Business Improvement District (BID)
as announced on Monday, 17th March 2008.
The
yes vote makes Inverness the first city in the
world to incorporate property owners as well as businesses in a BID - a
move expected to be copied elsewhere.
Businesses
and property owners in Inverness have been voting for the last two months
following a hugely successful pilot project that brought the city the first Inverness winter festival and ice-rink.
The
new BID will become operational from 1st April 2008, when all
businesses and property owners will pay a levy that goes towards improvement
projects. The projects will be driven by the directors of the new Inverness BID
company who will be elected by local businesses.
Garek Begg, of Begg Shoes and Bags and
Chairman of Inverness BID Steering Group, said: "Our aim is to make
the city more easily accessible and attractive in the public eye, and
we'll achieve this by making it amongst other things a cleaner and safer
place to do business.
"Our business plan was developed by
local business people and with the BID now a reality, we must grasp this
opportunity, get all businesses engaged and press forward with implementing the
improvements in it. "
The
Inverness BID is the second of six Scottish pilots to announce its ballot
result with Bathgate announcing its result last week, Clackmannanshire
announcing later this month and the Falkirk
and Edinburgh BID votes taking place in April and May respectively. Glasgow's ballot
follows later in the year.
 Stephens Brae Artists Impression
Cllr
Bob Wynd, Provost of Inverness added:
"It
is a great credit to our local business community that they are amongst the
first in the country to have seized the opportunity BIDs provide."
"Inverness
is the capital of the Highlands and the
vibrant heart of our community. Our new BID will allow businesses, property
owners and public services to work together"
"This
close partnership will make sure we are all pulling in the same direction:
working hard to make sure Inverness is a great
place for businesses and customers alike."
John
Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, welcomed the
news:
"I
believe this positive vote represents a major opportunity for Inverness City
Centre and I would like to congratulate the businesses, local authority and BID
project team who have worked very hard to deliver this positive vote.
"BIDs
will enable key players in the community to come together and transform
Scottish towns and cities like Inverness.
In turn, our towns and cities can be the drivers of economic growth both
locally and nationally."
For
further information on Business
Improvement Districts Scotland
please visit www.bids-scotland.co.uk
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