Bradford’s daily newspaper has thrown its weight behind efforts to set up the first Business Improvement District in the city.
The Telegraph & Argus, which is based in Hall Ings, has launched its own campaign to encourage the 600 or so businesses and organisations in the city centre to vote YES when the plan goes to a ballot in September.
Under the banner “We’re Backing the BID”, the T&A will be carrying a monthly page of the latest updates on the BID process along with regular features and news stories about its progress in print and online.
The move comes after a feasibility study revealed that 70 per cent of businesses who took part in a survey said they were in favour of the idea.
T&A editor Nigel Burton said: “It should come as no surprise plans to set up a Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) have received overwhelming support.
“The only surprise is that it has taken Bradford this long to get round to setting one up.
“In towns and cities across the country, BID partners are working together for the common good – tidying up the streets, organising exciting new attractions and generally making retail centres a nicer place to shop.”
Mr Burton said the BID could have a huge impact on the city centre.
“A city the size of Bradford should have had a BID years ago,” he said. “By making the retail environment more attractive, a successful BID team will boost visitor numbers to the benefit of everyone – shoppers and businesses alike.
“And with a £2.5 million kitty over the course of the fixed five-year term, Bradford’s BID will certainly have the financial firepower to have a transformative effect on the city centre.
“We can’t wait to see it get started!”
The T&A’s campaign was welcomed by Ian Ward, chairman of the BID Development Board.
He said: “The T&A’s support is a real boost for our efforts to make a tangible difference to Bradford city centre.
“The newspaper has been based in the city centre since it launched in 1868 and it has chronicled the changes over all that time on a daily basis.
“Its staff and journalists know only too well the impact the BID could have and we’re really grateful they have decided to campaign with us to get it off the ground.
“It’s a brilliant endorsement of our efforts and we hope it will help those businesses who are still to engage with the process to really get behind it.”
