An improved city centre could be on the way after an agreement was reached to create a Business Improvement District in Lichfield.
Members of Lichfield Town Team, Lichfield District Council and the Birmingham Chamber for Commerce & Industry have entered into a formal partnership to allow the plan to be developed.
The Business Improvement District will see businesses contribute between £100 and £5,000 a year towards the projects aimed at boosting the area, including events, marketing, extra street cleaning and additional policing.
Richard Lewis, President of the Chamber of Trade & Commerce in Lichfield, said: “Following the positive response from city businesses, as part of the feasibility study, members of Lichfield Town Team voted unanimously to invest in the development of a Business Improvement District for the city centre.
“This will involve workshops and meetings with businesses to find out what they would want. Once the business plan is finalised, all businesses will then be asked to vote on whether or not they support the Business Improvement District.
“We’re hoping the ballot will take place in early 2015.”
The development work will be funded using High Street Innovation funding given to Lichfield District Council by the government.
Anna Riley from Cure, a ladies’ boutique in the city centre and member of the Lichfield Town Team, added: “Business Improvement Districts are about helping cities like Lichfield to compete with nearby out of town retail parks, the internet and other local shopping centres.
“Our recent initiatives, including the new city map, back of bus advertising, door stickers and website, are helping us meet this competition.
“That said, Lichfield Town Team recognises that more needs to be done to safeguard footfall, support new and existing businesses and attract new shops and businesses into the city, and we think a Business Improvement District could be the answer.”
