THE result of a vote by businesses in Worcester on whether they want the city centre to be turned into a business improvement district (BID) has been delayed by the postal strike.

The independent company undertaking the ballot, Electoral Reform Services, has decided to delay the declaration of the result until Wednesday.

It was originally planned for Monday.

Adrian Field, Worcester BID manager, said: “This is to ensure that any papers which would normally have arrived in time to beat the deadline of 5pm Friday can still be received and counted.”

We previously reported how the Worcester BID has received a mixed reaction among businesses in the city centre.

If the project gets the go-ahead firms could contribute more than £1.6 million over five years.

If a majority of the 613 businesses eligible to vote do so in favour by both number and rateable value, a 1.5 per cent levy will be mandatory on practically all businesses in the BID area, which broadly covers Castle Street to Sidbury, flanked by the river Severn and City Walls Road. Charity shops would have an 80 per cent discount.

Street entertainers, taxi marshals, new Christmas lights and parking payable by mobile phone are among projects promised if the scheme, which will provide services above and beyond what can be expected of the local authorities, gets the nod.