Wimborne BID announces plans for its second year - your chance to express your views
WIMBORNE could add ice skating to its future attractions.
At its annual meeting Wimborne BID (Business Improvement District), chairman Chris Slocock said they had plans to hire an ice rink in 2015 at a cost of around £75,000. In order to plan for this, £25,000 would be set aside for the next three years.
Dates and a final location have yet to be arranged.
In addition to business owners, the meeting was attended by guest speaker Annette Brooke MP, several district councillors and the Mayor of Wimborne, Councillor John Burden.
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The BID has identified signage as one of the chief issues it needs to address in the coming year and has put aside £12,500 to cover future costs of this project. However, it will require government approval which has not yet been given.
The BID, which is a non profit making company, has agreed to purchase a public address system that can be used at outside events and £3,500 has been ring-fenced to cover that cost.
The total levy raised by Wimborne BID for the year ending 31st July 2012 was £95,204. An additional £10,047.46 was raised from a lottery grant, sponsorships and tickets sales for a casino night.
Chairman Chris Slocock said: "This means that for every pound of your levy we were able to spend £1.13 on your behalf."
The draft financial statement, which was given to everyone at the meeting, showed a total of £52,634 was spent during the year.
Expenditure included £10,000 towards the town's Christmas lights and £18,238 on advertising.
Funds were paid to three directors, but it was pointed out that due to the non-profit making nature of the company, all the charges were made on or below the normal prices charged for these services.
Malcolm Angel and Martin Tidd charged the company management fees in respect of time spent on the company's affairs and these amounted to £819 and £2,370 respectively.
The company was also charged £1,980 for administrative costs by Print Solutions Ltd and £929 by the Advertising Hub Limited. Chris Slocock is a director and shareholder in both of these companies.
In the coming year £2,000 will be donated to Wimborne in Bloom and £12,000 to the Chamber of Trade and Commerce for the Christmas lights. This latter amount will be reviewed annually.
The BID is working with coach companies to encourage them to come to town next year.
Under consideration is late night opening at Christmas and together with the Tourist Information Centre there are plans to update the town trail so that visitors discover all parts of the town.
Marilyn Barber
As the most widely read local paper in the area, the Stour & Avon Magazine is keen to support any project or organisation working for the good of the communities where we circulate. The magazine has been following and reporting on the progress of the Wimborne BID which is now in its second year.
The BID process has been very successful in Dorchester - is it making a difference in Wimborne?
We would like to hear the views of local businesses, traders and residents. Do you support the BID? Do you understand how it works? How is the BID benefiting your business and Wimborne as a whole? What do you hope the BID will achieve over the next four years? For instance do you favour the idea of an ice rink for the town?
This week, we are launching the Stour & Avon Forum on the BID and we want to hear what you think. You can email your views to the Blackmore Vale Media Business Editor, Marilyn Barber. Send her your comments for publication in the Forum, and your questions, which she will put to the BID leaders.
We would like as wide a cross-section of views as possible - if you would prefer not to have your name and address published, we will respect your wishes, but we do not accept anonymous correspondence, so all submissions must include your name and address.
This is a very important project for the future of Wimborne - get involved. Have your say!
Email: mbarber@bvmedia.co.uk
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