By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 13:17, Thursday, 19 July 2012

Businesses across Carlisle are invited to an information evening in the city to help find out what they could get from a BID.

Plans for setting up a Business Improvement District (BID) – which would see businesses paying an extra charge on top of their rates – were revealed earlier this year.

Two sessions are planned for next week to show what it could mean for individual organisations.

Supporters claim the BID would enhance the city centre and boost its economy.

Independent experts will be on hand to give a short presentation on what benefits a business can expect to gain from a BID for the city centre and answer any questions.

The meetings – next Wednesday and Thursday – have been organised as part of the build up to the formal postal ballot of all qualifying businesses within the city centre area, which will take place between July 23 and August 23.

If the ballot produces a ‘Yes’ vote then the formal BID Company can start operating from September.

A plan, which sets out how the BID would be managed and what its priorities would be, has been published and was sent to local businesses earlier this month. The plan is being championed by a group of businesses which include Bookcase, House of Fraser, Marks & Spencer, the Lanes Shopping Centre, Mothercare, Wilkinsons, Joplings, the Crown & Mitre Hotel, the Kings Head, Bon Appetit, La Pergola and Tullie House – together with Carlisle City Council.

Steve Matthews, owner of Bookcase on Castle Street and chairman of the BID Steering Group, said it would give retailers a chance to shape the city centre and keep it at the forefront of shopping in the region.

“Other towns and cities have had successful BIDs. It is essential that we give Carlisle a competitive edge,” he said.

The areas the BID will look at are marketing, promotion and events; intelligence and communication; reducing business costs; operations around the quality of the streetscape; leadership and advocacy.

The first event will be at Bon Appétit at 6pm and in the same venue for a breakfast meeting at 8am.

There are more than 130 BIDs in the UK from Inverness to Plymouth. Nearest to Carlisle are in Newcastle, Liverpool and Preston.

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 19 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk