Whilst I am not against the principle of an Andover BID at some point in the future, this should only be after the true scale of reviving our town centre is understood and once all other options have been fully explored/ exhausted.

Having spoken with many town centre businesses and read what little Andover BID documentation is available, I am very concerned about the way the BID has and continues to be handled. The BID is alienating the very businesses it is supposed to help and as it currently stands, the BID is being set up to fail to deliver the improvements needed to create a thriving and sustainable town centre.

Out of the thousand plus businesses in/around Andover, is it right that an arbitrary 254 town centre businesses (rateable value £10,000 or higher) are to be legally forced to bear the financial burden of improving our town centre? Many of the 254 are struggling to keep their businesses afloat and many see the BID Levy as a financial penalty for having the audacity to run a town centre business. TVBC will have spent nearly £100,000 tax payers money just to set the BID up. Surely all businesses in/ around Andover, our wealthy councils and all residents have a vested interest and a financial responsibility to ensure our town centre becomes a thriving and sustainable place once again?

Until recently, many of the 254 knew nothing about the BID and they are still waiting to receive a detailed BID Business Plan. There is no minimum turnout for the BID ballot, making it vital. The 254 submit their votes. If you’re one of the 254 and haven’t received your ballot paper by October 12, please contact the BID Steering Group chairperson, Lisa Armstrong of Active Staff. The BID Levy against the 254 should raise £200,000 annually but after BID admin/running costs, there will be limited funds left for improvements. To recoup their BID levies (assuming they are working to a 10 per cent profit margin), the 254 will need to sell an additional £2 million worth of goods/services just to stand still!

TVBC’s cabinet has produced a baseline of council services it will provide within the town centre but has refused to guarantee it will fund these services for the full five year BID term. Reduced/cut council services will further limit improvement efforts.

Realistically, the Town Centre needs millions of pounds of investment funds, something way beyond the ability of the 254.

During 2014-17, our wealthy county, borough and town councils contributed limited funding for the town centre management to improve the town centre. Our borough and town councils continued this funding via the Town Centre Partnership but this will stop if the BID proceeds. Had our councils invested more/used their positions of authority to improve the town centre, would we now have a thriving town centre and no need for a BID? How can we expect the 254 with limited funding and no authority, to do better than our councils?

There are alternatives to the current BID. We need to have a major re-think on what we as a community want from our town centre (now and in the future) and then work out how we all can deliver it.

David Coole, Upper Clatford

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