Town councillors in Knaresborough have rejected a motion to prevent traders having another vote on creating a business improvement district until 2026.

Knaresborough firms voted against setting up a BID by 80 votes to 73 in October 2021.

But the creation of a Facebook group called Get the BID for Knaresborough Back on Track has led to suggestions some businesses could push for another ballot.

If firms vote to set up a BID — as has happened in Harrogate and Ripon — town centre traders pay an annual levy to support schemes that boost footfall.

Cllr Kathryn Davies, a Conservative who represents Aspin and Calcutt, proposed the motion at this week's full council meeting.

She said BID terms lasted five years and there should be "parity in the time lapse" between ballots when one is rejected.

Cllr Davies said another ballot would ignite "old tensions" and the motion would "bring some calmness to the situation". She added:

But Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who was also elected in Aspin and Calcutt, said it could equally be argued the town had lost out on £400,000 of investment the BID levy would have generated and that ultimately it was a decision for traders, not councillors.

Cllr Walker said:

Nobody has formally called for a second ballot and Cllr David Goode, a Liberal Democrat who represents Castle ward, said "it would be madness for any local group to move forward without knowing the majority of local businesses were in favour".

He added:

The motion failed when John Batt, a Conservative who represents Eastfield, withdrew his support as a seconder to the motion.

Cllr Batt agreed "it's not our job to dictate to the business community what they should do".

Read more:

• Police officer bumps into shoplifting suspect in Knaresborough McDonalds toilets


• Farm Dairy retains title of Knaresborough's best business