A TOWN centre revival is under way after Weymouth traders voted for a £1.5 million scheme to attract more shoppers and visitors.

People have voted for Weymouth town centre to become a Business Improvement District (BID) in a bid to reverse its flagging fortunes.

Nearly 70 per cent of traders and business representatives who voted were in favour of the scheme, which will see £300,000 raised annually to spend on the shopping area.

However, less than half the businesses eligible to take part cast a vote but they will now have to pay towards the scheme.

Plans to bring more visitors to the town include specialised markets, free parking and Weymouth ambassadors, who will welcome visitors to the town in a similar role to the Olympic volunteers.

Cash will be spent on promoting the town to both British and international visitors and a new festival is in the offing.

It is hoped that the new ideas will reverse the trend of town centre shops closing – with 20 shops boarded up at the last count.

Nigel Reed, chairman of the Weymouth BID, said: “This is excellent news for Weymouth and a big thank you to the Dorset Echo for supporting the vote.

“We have made it happen and particular thanks to the steering group, council and all those businesses that helped in the process.

“I’m pleased that people have taken on board what we are trying to do.

“This is something new for Weymouth. The hard work starts now – there’s a lot to do.”

Mr Reed said the first task for the BID will be to secure a BID manager and volunteers to act as Weymouth ambassadors.

Trader Luke Mansell has just opened a new gourmet shop in the town centre selling Dorset produce.

Mr Mansell, owner of Chalbury Food and Wine in St Mary Street, said he hoped the ‘yes’ vote will give a boost to small businesses and provide more jobs for local people.

“Everyone will benefit. Hopefully this will see more shops opening and more jobs created.”

Councillor Ian Munro-Price, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council spokesman for economic development, said: “Businesses working together as part of a BID will be a good step forward to further improving the town centre and to encourage more visitors to the town and people to shop locally and keep money in the town.

“I wish the BID every success for the future in developing and delivering their business plan for the borough and the council looks forward to working closely with them.”

BID steering committee member Craig Dunkerley, general manager at Weymouth Sea Life Park, said he was ‘really pleased’ to see that people had got behind the scheme.

He said: “The whole idea is to generate the environment to enable people to do their shopping in a nicer area.

“We want to have a higher foot-fall in the town centre and to see more information on what the town has to offer.”

Voters were polled throughout May for the BID ballot, which had a 46 per cent turn-out.

It achieved a 69 per cent (189) ‘yes’ vote – 189 in total out of 274 votes cast.

More than 500 businesses were eligible to vote.

All businesses with a rateable value of £6,000 and above within the Weymouth BID area were entitled to vote.

What is a BID?

A BID is a business-led and business funded body formed to improve a defined commercial area.

Weymouth joins 155 Formal BIDs in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Of these, 59 have had a successful first renewal and four have had a successful second renewal.

Legislation enabling the formation of BIDs was passed in 2003 in England and Wales.

BIDs were first established in Canada and the US in the 1960s and now exist across the globe, including in South Africa, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

A BID is funded through the BID levy, which is a small percentage of a businesses' rateable value. The majority of BIDs charge one per cent of rateable value.

BIDs operate for a maximum of five years. If they wish to continue they must go through a renewal ballot process to secure another BID term of up to five years.

THE Dorset Echo backed the BID when the plans to improve Weymouth town centre were revealed.

The BID's plan is based on more than 10 months of consultation with levy payers to deliver projects that encourage increased footfall, visitor spending and repeat visits to the area.

The top priority is to beat seasonality in the resort and get more visitors to come throughout the year.

Another goal is to make Weymouth a 'great night out' by encouraging the effective use of existing CCTV systems and encourage schemes helping people find a quick and safe route out of the town late at night.

The Weymouth BID had to receive more than 50 per cent 'yes' votes to be established. All businesses within the levy area will fund it.