Proposals for a Gloucester Business Improvement District have won "overwhelming" support, it was announced today.

Businesses in the city centre, Gloucester Docks and Gloucester Quays approved the plans for a Business Improvement District in a ballot which closed yesterday.

During June, all eligible business ratepayers in the Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID) area were balloted, with 85.8 per cent of those voting saying 'yes' to the proposals in a ballot organised by Gloucester City Council.

A BID levies a small additional charge on eligible businesses, creating a fund to be used on priorities agreed by businesses.

City council leader Cllr Paul James said: "I am delighted that the BID proposals have received overwhelming support from businesses.

"The BID task group deserve congratulations for their hard work. This project has been very much led by business, but with the city council's support.

"I see the BID as being vital for the future of the city centre and the council will work closely with the Bid Company as we bring forward our regeneration plans."

The BID Company will deliver an ambitious programme of improvements that will help make Gloucester a safe, attractive place to do business, shop, visit, study and invest.

Building on investment to date in the regeneration of the city, the five-year programme will include measures to improve safety and security, increase marketing of the city and expand the events programme, and improve the cleanliness and attractiveness of the city.

The BID will support levy-paying businesses to make cost savings through group purchasing of services, improving their profitability and creating jobs, and act as the 'voice' for those businesses to work with the city council and public authorities to drive forward the regeneration of the city.

The BID will be funded by a 'levy' on around 600 business rate payers in the area (those with rateable values over £10,000) that will provide around £2.3million of funding towards the programme over five years.

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Picture: Gloucester Docks