Alloa First BID renewed for fourth consecutive term

This will see the BID continue to operate in the town for the next five years, as voted by local businesses and organisations.

The BID secured the new term after receiving a 59.26 per cent majority of votes received and a 77.02 per cent by rateable value.

Alloa First BID had to secure a majority both in votes cast and in rateable value of votes cast.

Hugh McMichael, chair of Alloa First and owner of McMichael’s Sony Centre, said: “We are very grateful for the trust and support the business community has shown by voting for a further five years.

“Alloa First is tremendously important for the town centre businesses and organisations and has achieved some amazing results for the town over the past 15 years, investing more than £1,500,000 locally since 2008.

“Business owners have recognised the BID’s invaluable contributions in helping to improve the town centre over the past 15 years, and have supported our ambitious plans to further secure, strengthen and showcase Alloa as we now head towards a fourth term.”

Since being introduced in 2008, the BID has taken on responsibilities such as improving the CCTV network in Alloa and ensuring there is a Christmas light switch-on event each year.

These became key selling points for the BID renewal, with Alloa First promising to hold a switch-on event until 2028, to put up lights around the town and to carry on the weekly recycling service.

Hugh added: “The BID team is dedicated to making our town centre the best it can be for the whole community.

“This means ensuring our town centre is safe, attractive and welcoming, delivering inclusive events to attract visitors, supporting businesses to be resilient, lobbying for improvements and helping to attract new investment into the town.”

As part of the BID framework, the continuation of the project is to be put to a vote every five years to ensure majority support.

This is the third time the BID has been renewed, with the next vote scheduled for 2028.

To ensure neutrality in the vote, the ballot was undertaken and managed by independent organisation Civica Election Services on behalf of Clackmannanshire Council.

Diane Brown, manager of Alloa First, said: “We are committed to championing and supporting our town centre and its businesses and the past five years in particular have seen the importance of working together.

“Looking forward, we are determined to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead and greatly value the help of the wider community who are visiting and supporting local businesses and organisations.

“This continued investment into our town centre through the BID levy, means that popular events like the Christmas light switch-on can now go ahead in the next month, alongside a host of other year-round activities.

“Funding for Christmas lights, the floral enhancements, local websites, directories and promotions will remain and together we will plan new projects to bring vibrancy to our brilliant community.

“Importantly, we will continue to offer all kinds of business support, lobbying, representation and place management including addressing vacant units, while welcoming new investment and working towards a sustainable and resilient future.”

Diane added: “I also wish to thank our board of directors who offer their time voluntarily and we look forward to working alongside our members and local stakeholders to deliver the new business style and ensure our town centre is a place we are proud of.

“We’re excited to continue the journey and look forward to sharing more news very soon.”

There was some significant opposition to the renewal of the BID from several businesses, who were outspoken about the levy charge.

The levy, which all Alloa-based businesses pay into to receive the BID's benefits, was to be raised as part of the Alloa First Business Plan 2023-2028.

This prompted a number of businesses to question the BID and what they receive from it, with some refusing to pay.

Steven Francis, who manages the Faded barbershop in town, said he was disappointed that the BID had been renewed.

"They won't be getting a penny off of me," Steven told the Advertiser. "I'm just a new business and they're not getting money from me.

"I've been blocked from their page so they can't advertise my business, so I won't be paying for a service I don't receive."

Other businesses had previously spoken out about the BID renewal, citing a lack of consultation and poor return for the fees.

To view the Alloa First Business Plan 2023-2028 and find out more about Alloa First, visit alloafirst.co.uk.