INDEPENDENT retailers in Worcester are backing a project aimed at boosting business in the city centre.

Small shop owners said they will be voting ‘yes’ in this month’s ballot supporting the proposed Worcester BID (Business Improvement District).

The Worcester BID could see firms contribute more than £1.6 million towards improving trading conditions in the city centre over the next five years.

If successful in this month’s ballot, which would mean a majority of the 613 businesses eligible voting in favour by both number and rateable value, a 1.5 per cent levy will be mandatory on practically every one of those businesses which fall into the BID area. That area broadly covers Castle Street to Sidbury, flanked by the river Severn and City Walls Road.

The ballot runs until Friday, October 30.

Stephen Newey, owner of Four Leaf Clothing in New Street, said he thought paying that levy was outweighed by the potential benefits.

“I think it’s an excellent idea,” he said. “We are an independent shop and have got a bit of a reputation as being a bit of a cult shop.

“We want to try to get more people to know about us and I think if the Worcester BID can get more people coming to Worcester it has got to be good news.

“Obviously, we are not looking to increase our overheads at this time but at the same you have got to speculate to accumulate.”

Simon Benhamou, owner of Fuel and Dare in Reindeer Court, said: “I think it will be very helpful for a small businesses like ours.

“I think the city centre needs a bit of a boost. It needs something like this to fine tune all of the things wrong with the city centre such as allowing people to extend their car parking time by mobile phones. For the small amount of money it’s going to cost I think it’ll be well worth it.”

The idea is for businesses to work together to provide services above and beyond what can be expected of the local authorities, in an effort to bring in more visitors and therefore boost sales.

We previously reported how street entertainers, taxi marshals, new Christmas lights and parking payable by mobile phone are among a raft of projects promised if it gets the go-ahead.

Joint marketing, joint purchasing of services such as insurance and the provision of street rangers are also in the pipeline.

Copies of the business plan and full details of the BID can be viewed online at worcesterbid.com or by calling Adrian Field, Worcester BID project manager, on 01905 722337.