Wimbledon businesses back business improvement district (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

BREAKING NEWS: Wimbledon businesses back the bid

12:58pm Friday 10th February 2012

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Traders in Wimbledon town centre have voted to create a new partnership to stand up for their interests.

Today (February 10) it was revealed they had voted in favour of creating a business improvement district (bid) in the town centre.

Diana Sterck, chief executive of Merton Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news. She said: "It's about making Wimbledon a better place for businesses and increasing football and visitor numbers. The timing is great, just prior to the Olympics."

She said all town centres were facing challenges in the current economic climate, but Wimbledon's was "standing up pretty well".

Turnout for the vote was 36 per cent, with 70 per cent of those responding backing the scheme. A yes vote of more than 50 per cent was needed to give the scheme the green light.

Restaurants, shops and other businesses in the affected area will pay an annual levy to fund the new bid organisation - which will promote the area, lobby on behalf of traders and supply them with up-to-date information.

It will exist from next month until March 2017, and cover the centre of Wimbledon including stretches of the Broadway, Hartfield Road, Worple Road and Wimbledon Hill Road.

Most businesses are set to pay between £200 and £1,000 a year, depending on their size, and the scheme could raise almost £500,000 a year.

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