A GROWING number of Minehead traders intend to vote against the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) getting a second five-year term when a ballot is held in May, “Vote No to Minehead BID” campaigners have claimed.

“There are a lot of people who have become very dissatisfied with BID since it started in 2018,” said campaign spokesman Ben Jewell. “In fact no-one we have talked to has gained any real benefit from it. The compulsory levy leaves a bad taste in many people’s mouths.”

But this week, BID chairman Graham Sizer hit back at his critics, saying: “Our members have said that they get great value for money with everything BID delivers.

“There is no question that Minehead BID has not delivered, improved and enhanced our town for businesses visitors and residents.”

Campaigners claimed that over 50 of BID’s 240 members now intend to vote against a further term, and that the number is steadily increasing. But Mr Sizer countered that 64 per cent of BID members who responded to a consultation exercise said they would vote “yes” in the forthcoming ballot.

Under BID regulations 50 per cent of member businesses must vote in favour of a continuation and those voting “yes” must represent more than 50 per cent of the total rateable value of all votes cast in the ballot.

Mr Jewell said: “There is a general belief in the town that BID has not come up to expectations. What we are doing as a collective group of disillusioned traders is mounting a “No” campaign to provide democratic balance and ultimately the balance will decide.

“We don’t need a BID to be successful. Minehead needs something individually tailored to the town, not the concept of BID. There are many towns which have successful business collectives.

Campaigners say they have highlighted traders’ claims that at least one business has been visited by bailiffs to recover the BID levy and other members have either paid on the last threatening letter or on a court summons.

“This is just another unfair tax and I have seen no return on my investment,” one trader said.

“A lot of us originally voted for BID based on the promises in the original business plan claiming that every business would benefit from cost-saving schemes and in fact would recoup more than they paid in.  In fact no-one I’ve spoken to has saved any money in this way.”

Other shop-owners - who asked not to be named - claimed that events organised by BID competed with their businesses. One said: “My takings are always well down,” and another added: “Events do nothing for my business and I close when they are on.”

Mr Jewell told the Free Press: “A big majority of levy payers have told us they are not happy with the situation and don’t see any value in it. We are paying for the “Yes” campaign, for the glossy leaflets and the PR promotions.

“At least £80,000 of the levy money has gone to the town and district councils. A huge amount of money has gone out of the local economy. We feel that BID has had five years and nothing has been achieved for the people running the shops and businesses. It has largely been a waste of time and money.”

In a statement, Mr Sizer said: “The original BID business plan, mapping out the main spending themes that our 200-plus businesses wanted to see, has been followed.

“Events such as the Minehead Victorian Steampunk Festival and Eat Festivals increase footfall and spending. Several of our businesses have a pitch at the food festivals and report great trade both there and in their shops. 

“We get such a lot of feedback and thanks about how attractive the town is - flowers, bunting, Christmas lighting - and while we use local contractors for this, it wouldn’t happen without BID funding. BID is a proven model with over 330 business improvements districts in the country. 

“The majority of members want to see the new business plan reflecting many aspects highlighted in the original plan and the comments made by a number of traders have been taken on board. 

“An additional sum of £135,000 was secured by the BID from the government to help our traders - funds that would have gone elsewhere had it not been for BID.” 

Mr Sizer added: “The new 2023-28 business plan will be delivered to every business in the BID area in due course. We'd like to think that both our critics and supporters will read and vote accordingly.

“While we have seen and heard some inaccuracies and mistruths about the BID from a small group of traders on a ‘No Minehead BID’ platform, we would be pleased to dispel any myths and provide the facts to any of our levy payers wanting information.”