THE decision by local businesses to vote in favour of creating a Business Improvement District in Worcester city centre is good news.

This newspaper has been a wholehearted supporter of the plan to create a BID and we are delighted with the yes vote.

More importantly, the thousands of people who rely on city centre shops and businesses for their livelihoods should be delighted.

The BID will see a raft of projects introduced in Worcester next year, including taxi marshals, new Christmas lights and parking payable by mobile phone. It is city centre businesses themselves who have chosen the projects.

The BID will be paid for through a 1.5 per cent levy on each business’s rateable value – meaning the biggest organisations pay the most. The University of Worcester, for instance, will be contributing more than £350,000 a year.

The BID has the potential to transform the city centre, making it more attractive for visitors and shoppers – and boosting trade for local businesses.

Our Buy Local campaign earlier this year was well received by traders and customers alike.

We see the BID as a natural extension of Buy Local – ensuring local businesses determine the future of their trading environment.

And for a cost to most firms in the city centre of about £1 a day we think the BID will be a bargain.

Now the votes are in it is time for the BID team to get to work. We look forward to seeing the fruits of their labours.