ILKLEY'S business community is being urged to back a scheme to re-invigorate trade in the town.

Ilkley Business Forum, with help from Ilkley Parish Council, is seeking the support of Ilkley businesses to establish a Business Improvement District (BID).

Otley was the first town to establish a BID in the Leeds district back in 2014 which has led to £370,000 being made available to be ploughed into town centre improvements over five years.

If Ilkley traders were to follow the same route it would create similar investment to promote the area and create better conditions to increase trade for local businesses. Whilst some of its role will be to make Ilkley a more pleasing place for trade, it will also promote the value of operating in Ilkley as a base for industry and commerce.

A meeting to discuss the BID is being held on Wednesday (March 29) at 5.30pm (for 6pm) at the Clarke Foley Centre. All local businesses are invited to attend to learn more about the process.

Steve Butler, chairman of Ilkley Business Forum, said 400 businesses in Ilkley contributed about £12m rateable value but many complained nothing was invested in promoting Ilkley as a trading town, tourist resort or as an environment to build a business.

"They feel that nothing is invested in promoting the town as a business community and location," he said. "Once established, the BID will be a separate legal entity with its own governance and budget. It will be able to employ people and have a real voice when considering issues affecting local traders. This includes promoting the town as both a shopping, leisure and tourist site as well as helping locally based businesses to reach new markets nationally and internationally."

The BID is funded by a small levy being charged to each business within the proposed Business Improvement District based on its rateable value. All businesses which pay rates within the proposed BID area will be invited to vote on whether or not to establish a BID in Ilkley. It is hoped to hold the ballot in late autumn of 2017. For the proposal to be met 50 per cent of those voting must vote yes.

Mr Butler added: "There are many BIDs running successfully across the UK. Keighley businesses recently voted in favour of a BID for their town; Otley BID has been going for over two years and Skipton BID is now in its eighth year. Businesses have found it really frustrating to pay business rates and know that the money is not being spent here, in our beautiful town, to promote trade and tourism as well as helping Ilkley based businesses to develop new markets.

"We have looked for ways to help Ilkley develop as a centre for shopping, trade, leisure and commerce. The BID will make a major contribution to achieving these ambitions and as chairman of the Ilkley Business Forum I want all businesses in the Ilkley to benefit from this opportunity.”

Stuart Hyde, of Stuart Hyde Associates Ltd and David Robinson, of Clip n' Climb, will be leading the presentation at 6pm on Wednesday at the Clarke Foley Centre. Every business owner is welcome. Tea and biscuits will be available from 5.30pm onwards.