MINEHEAD traders have voted to support an ambitious scheme to invest £500,000 over the next five years to boost business in the town.

A poll of businesses saw 67 per cent in favour of the plan to create a Minehead Business Improvement District which will target ways of improving what the town has to offer – from bigger and better events to marketing and collective purchasing.

For the scheme to go ahead there had to be a majority vote in favour both by number and rateable value. The results, on a 61 per cent turn-out, represented 78 per cent of rateable value of the businesses that voted.

“These figures are higher than the national average for BIDs,” said Chris Turner, CEO of the British BIDS organisation after the voting figures were released last Friday.

“This is an excellent result and clear mandate to take the BID forward over the next five years.”

Graham Sizer, chairman of the BID steering group, said: “Now the hard work begins. Although faring better than many other town centres, many of our business community have witnessed a High Street in decline.

“Finance and resources have always been an issue but this is our chance to make a difference.”

But a Minehead shop owner who campaigned against the BID scheme said this week that she would be monitoring the costs of the project, which she claimed would be “enormous”.

Alison Prior, owner of vintage clothes shop Wombledon, said that during her campaign 26 businesses had told her they were “vehemently against” the BID scheme.

“We are now locked into the project for five years, which is a long time. I think we could have got a better deal and a better business plan,” she said.

“It is important that we watch where all the money goes.”

Mr Sizer said that when the scheme rolls out:

n A total of 243 businesses covering the centre of Minehead, the harbour, Seaward Way and the seafront will each be contributing 1.5 per cent of their rateable value. In most cases this will amount to under £3 per week.

n The funds will be spent on events, marketing, public realm improvements and business support as spelled out in the business plan.

Details can be found on the Minehead BID website www.mineheadbid.co.uk