Will Newbury adopt a business consortium? Result today (Tuesday)

The result of the ballot of Newbury business on whether to establish a Business Improvement District in the town centre will be declared in the district council chamber in Market Street, Newbury, at 3.45pm.
If the BID is adopted, each town centre business will pay a one per cent levy based on the rateable value of the size of their business, generating an estimated £1,060,000 over a five year period.
There are more than 600 businesses within the proposed district, which is bordered by Western Avenue in the north, Station Road in the south, the A339 in the east and Bartholomew Road north of the railway line in the west.
Business had from April 4 to April 30 to register their vote.
In order for the BID to be adopted more than 50 per cent of the businesses who vote must vote yes, and those that vote yes must make up more than 50 per cent of the rateable value of votes cast.
The BID has been supoorted by the likes of Newury MP Richard Benyon, and Newbury Mayor Jeff Beck, both pictured above.