Manager appointed to oversee town centre consortium

Former Sheepdrove conference centre manager to lead consultation into Newbury Town Centre Partnership replacement

A manager has been appointed to oversee a bid which could see Newbury businesses form a consortium generating £200,000 a year for town centre projects and events.

Rate-paying businesses in Newbury town centre are being consulted on whether they want to form a Business Improvement District (BID) to replace the Town Centre Partnership, which will become defunct when its funding runs out in April 2012.

Under a BID, each business would pay between a 1 and 5 per cent levy, based on the rateable value of the size of their business, generating a possible £200,000 a year for town centre projects.

Last month the BID Steering Group appointed Newbury man Martin Wright as the BID consultant and now former manager of Sheepdrove Eco Conference Centre, Russell Downing, has been appointed BID manager.

Mr Downing, who will be accountable to the BID Steering Group, will oversee the BID consultation process, which is being funded by the Local Strategic Partnership and Town Centre Partnership, before businesses vote on whether to adopt the consortium next year.

In order for the BID to succeed, at least 50 per cent of the businesses that vote must vote in its favour.

Mr Downing said: “I will be preparing and presenting the bid and consulting with the local businesses.

“This is not something that is implemented by local or national government but by the local businesses. It's giving them a say and nothing will be done without that consultation.

“The aim is to increase footfall in the town centre which will increase business. We want to make Newbury a place where people want to visit for a social evening and where people come from other areas to visit.

“It's an exciting opportunity for Newbury and I look forward to working with the community. I think BID can make a real difference.”

Mr Downing and the BID Steering Group will attend a meeting at Newbury Town Hall tonight at 6.15pm for businesses wanting to find out more about the scheme.

For more, see Thursday's Newbury Weekly News.