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28
Nov 2024
Leaflet reignites moves to create business improvement district in Knaresborough
Moves to create a business improvement district in Knaresborough have been reignited.
Businesses in the town were leafleted last night about the benefits of creating a BID, and moving the idea forward.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the leaflet, which does not include any names. But it says “a committed and resolute group of Knaresborough businesses feel that now is the time to explore a BID in our town again” and urges people to register their interest in future BID meetings by scanning a QR code.
BIDs are funded by a levy paid by businesses within an assigned area. This funding is used to develop schemes that encourage visitors and boost trade.
Knaresborough was bitterly divided in 2021 when traders voted against creating a BID by 80 votes to 73, even though Harrogate Borough Council used its block vote of 28 votes to support the initiative.
But Harrogate and Ripon have both voted in favour of BIDs, whose terms last five years. Traders are then balloted again to see if they wish to continue the arrangement, as Harrogate firms did last year.
The leaflet suggests pro-BID supporters in Knaresborough are mounting a campaign for another vote, possibly in 2026 when five years will have elapsed since the 2021 vote.
It outlines the benefits of BIDs and claims “inaccuracies” affected the 2021 vote. It says:
Many anti-BID businesses did not engage but reached out to a national anti-BID organisations for strategic assistance.
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It adds that "we have listened to everyone, learned from our past mistakes and would explore independent shops with a rateable value of less than £12,000 being exempt from paying, plus potentially including the business park into the levy".
The leaflet says the BID levy would generate £125,000 on schemes to “invest back into the community”.
'Bids go against everything we have set out to do'
Independent traders Annie Wilkinson-Gill and Natalie Horner, who run the Knaresborough Business Collective, posted on social media today they had “nothing to do” with the leaflets “and have in no way been consulted on a bid being brought back in Knaresborough”.
They added:
Our stance remains the same as it did three years ago when the first BID attempt failed, and we have fought really hard to do good for Knaresborough over the last three years. Bids go against everything we have set out to do and that we believe in, taking from businesses who, despite what the brochure states, oftentimes cannot afford the minimum £365 per year levy.
As this seems to be an initial consultation phase, we urge every business to voice their opinions, be that for or against a bid, go to the meetings and ask questions, please do not stay quiet as this affects everybody. We are reluctant to be the mouthpiece for town again and put ourselves in the firing line as last time we were attacked, our businesses, our characters, and it hugely affected our mental health, but as before we are here impartially if anybody needs to talk.
A Knaresborough & District Chamber spokesperson denied it was responsible for the leaflet. They said:
Chamber will respond to and engage in any process that develops on behalf of its members in due course.
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