January BID Update

In May, more than 500 shops, offices and restaurants will have the opportunity to decide if they want Eastbourne to become a BID (Business Improvement District) town.

What makes the BID different to other schemes is that it is led entirely by the business community through a small levy on rateable values of just 1.5%, business owners can create (for the first time) their own funds to be spent how they choose. Businesses decide their priorities and how they want their money spent. 

More than 240 BIDs already exist in towns and cities across the UK including Hastings and Brighton, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Our BID will focus on improving our shopping environment, creating new events and increasing footfall. 

Failure to invest in our town centre will lead to us falling behind those that do have a BID. And a vibrant town centre benefits all businesses as more seek to invest and capitalise on our success. Businesses realise that in order for our town centres to prosper and compete with online trading a new shopping experience has to exist. And businesses are best placed to implement this.

If you are a town centre business - we maybe haven’t got around to speaking to you yet. So if you want to know more, please call us on 01323 641144 or email  us at info@youreastbournebid.com and we’ll visit you to tell you more. Alternatively, we have a drop in day on Tuesday, February 7, at the Town Hall in Grove Road, from 12noon until 6pm.

Read our draft business plan (its only a draft so there’s still time to have your say).

You’ll see our slogan is Your Eastbourne – Let’s Make It Shine. We really can if businesses vote “YES” in May.