Business Improvement District proposed for Twickenham
9:00am Sunday 9th September 2012 in News By Patrick Grafton-Green
Twickenham-based businesses may receive a helping hand through plans to generate more than £1.4m over five years.
The development of a Business Improvement District (Bid) – a business-led and business-funded initiative that encourages people to shop and invest in the area – is being backed by Richmond Council.
It will affect the main town centre and the streets around Twickenham Green.
Councillor Pamela Fleming, cabinet member for communities, business and culture, said: “The benefit in making Twickenham a Bid is in bringing all the businesses in the town centre together to help improve their offer to customers and employees.”
Potential improvements include high quality marketing work to promote the town centre and local shopping, business support such as recruitment and training and even the joint purchasing of insurance or materials to gain savings for all.
The council will discuss the plans later this month, and they will be voted on by all town centre business rate payers.
In establishing the Bid each would agree to pay a small sum.
Councillor Fleming added: “By contributing to the Bid, businesses have the ability to make a significant and lasting change to the area, and making it a buoyant and economically viable centre for people to shop and work. This will lead to higher footfall, happier employees and ultimately greater profits for all businesses involved."
Bids have already been set up in Kingston, Croydon and Sutton.
