BUSINESSES are being urged to have their say on the future of Stratford’s Business Improvement District (BID) before the consultation process closes next week.
The consultation, launched at the start of this month, is the first step in a process that will see town centre businesses vote for a third BID this autumn.
Stratforward BID is currently is in its second term which started in 2014 and expires in March next year. BID3 would run until March 2024.
As part of the process, the nearly 450 businesses who are members of the BID can have their say in how any future BID operates.
A consultation document distributed to the businesses highlights six areas in which Stratforward provides services to its members including the Town Hosts, and award-winning events and campaigns and schemes.
Businesses across the wide range of sectors in the BID area have been responding via email, comment forms and online, helping highlight what services are most important to them and any changed they would like to see.
But those who have not yet responded are urged to take the opportunity to have their say before the consultation closes on Wednesday (February 28).
The consultation process will be followed by the development and release of the BID3 Business Plan this summer ahead of a vote in the autumn.
BID director Joe Baconnet said: “We’ve had a great response from businesses so far who are keen to take this opportunity to help shape the future of Stratforward BID.
“The whole point of this consultation process is to hear what people like about what we do, what works for them, what does not and what they think our priorities in the future should be under any third BID.
“In order to gain as broad and deep a picture as possible about what businesses in Stratford want, I would urge all of our BID members to take this opportunity to highlight the areas you think bring value and any you would like to see in a third BID. That way we can make sure we’re bringing the best possible value to our members.”
