THERE has been a mixed reaction to the outcome of the Business Improvement District (BID) ballot.

The month-long vote which closed yesterday, (November 8) saw 51.1per cent vote in favour of the BID, with 70 votes backing the initiative and 67 votes against, with Test Valley Borough Council casting 13 votes.

As a result of the yes vote the BID will come into force in April 2019 and will run for a period of five years until 2024.

Anti-BID voices have shared their annoyance at the outcome, with many airing irritations on social media about the council’s votes.

But some have said that they are concerned about the strain of paying the levy which could impact their business.

Mooch owner Georgina Roberts said: “I just think it is a very sad day, I am quite impressed that we managed to get the word around as Andover Businesses Unite as a lot of businesses were not told about it and were not aware.

“We are disappointed as it is another levy on top of my rates, and what they are proposing is something that should be done by Test Valley Borough Council.

“It was a very close vote and I think if Test Valley Borough Council hadn’t of voted we may have had a different situation.”

Georgina added that there is appeal process against the vote, saying: “It is sad, but we will have to look at the next stage.”

She also said that the levy will hamper the amount of money she will be able to donate to charity. 

However, those who supported the BID have welcomed the vote, with Christine Mellor from David Mellor Jeweller’s saying that they have already seen the benefits of such a scheme.

She said: “It is what it is everyone had a vote. [It is] disappointing about the majority, it is practically split, so it is going to be difficult.

“We have a branch in Eastleigh and BID has been voted in for its second term with 93 per cent in favour so it does work in towns. In Eastleigh we decided to take a punt for five years to see if we can start turning things around.”

Christine said that the firm has been involved with Andover Town Centre Partnership and says that the BID “with more funding would be able to do more of the same but better”.

She added: “The high street has changed so much and businesses can’t be complacent and can’t wait for people to drip through the door, anything to get people into the town and increase the footfall is great. In an ideal word it would be without any funding but we don’t live in that world.”

More to follow.