Bid projects set to boost town centre
CAR parking incentives, a push on depedestrianisation, a free Wifi service, a music festival and a startup scheme to fill empty shop units are all on their way to Bridgend town centre.
It’s all thanks to the £480,000 which is expected to be raised by the new Bid (Business Improvement District) Scheme in Bridgend town centre over the next two-and-ahalf years.
After eligible retailers voted to approve the scheme last summer, Bid manager Justin Jenkins said the money generated by a levy on the businesses is due to start rolling in.
The cash – the amount of which varies per business depending on its size – will be held by Bridgend County Borough Council but will be spent by the Bid company CF31 Bid Ltd.
Mr Jenkins, a former town centre trader himself, said: “For as long as I can remember the traders have always had ideas to improve things in the town, but we have never had anybody with the time to be able to do it or the funds to reach the objectives until now.”
He said the ring-fenced money will not go towards paying for services the council already provides.
Directors of the Bid company, which include town centre traders from a variety of businesses, hold the purse strings and will base their spending decisions on priorities highlighted by theme groups which meet every few weeks.
Mr Jenkins said the long-awaited relaxation of pedestrianisation at the bottom end of the town has already been identified as a priority and Bid will be contributing £70,000 to the cost of making the traders’ longheld dream a reality. The remainder of the cost of the road works necessary is expected to be met by Bridgend council.
Mr Jenkins said: “The funding is ring-fenced to be spent on themes that will bring benefit and a brighter future to the town. All traders are invited to get involved with the theme groups and it would be great if they could contact me to see how they could get involved. CF31 has a great set of directors and management motivated by nothing but goodwill and a strong ambition for our town.”
Mr Jenkins can be contacted by email at info@ bridgendBid.com