Traders in Dundee city centre took to the streets in a last-ditch attempt to pass the Business Improvement District (BID) business plan.
Its backers say that, if successful, the move could result in more than £1.6 million being invested in the city centre over the next five years.
Collectively through their BID levy, businesses operating in “Downtown Dundee” hope to attract people to the area, and yesterday brought their wares onto the street to hold an impromptu market.
Business owner Irving Miskell-Reid said: “Given that we have decided to locate ourselves here, we want to create an identity for the area which is undoubtedly the most happening area of Dundee and the focus for a host of cool indy shops, eateries and other businesses.
“But we need to shout louder and further about what we have and, by creating a strong image for the area, which is after all just minutes’ walk away from the Waterfront and V&A, we are much more likely to attract people down here, giving them the experience they’re after, and boosting local independent businesses in the process.
“The key to our success will be working together, building on both the existing character of this area, and the huge potential that exists.”
It is hoped that “Downtown” Dundee would have a voice on the proposed BID Board.
Eligible businesses have until April 7 to submit their vote for a Business Improvement District.
An independent BID survey of 1,800 customers of the city centre found that 76% were keen to see more distinct clusters of local independent shops and restaurants, 56% wanted to see more events and 60% would be encouraged to visit the city more through coordinated promotion of what is available.
The proposed Downtown Dundee footprint would cover Exchange Street and Dock Street, up Castle Street to the High Street and up to Commercial Street to the junction of Seagate and High Street.
If successful, the BID would see all businesses in the area paying into a collective fund used to the benefit of all business.
The Dundee BID has been overwhelmingly backed in principle by the DD One action group and by the city council, and is now at the crucial stage of a ballot of up to 442 constituent businesses to decide its creation.
WHAT IS A BID?
A Business Improvement District is a business-led and business-funded organisation with a goal to improve an established area.
There are 182 BIDs throughout the UK, 27 of which are in Scotland with a further 24 in development, including Broughty Ferry, St Andrews and Stirling.
Scottish BIDs have a 100% success rate at being voted into a second term and the total investment they are now making in urban centres is more than £34 million. BIDs in Scotland represented 16,500 businesses by the end of 2014.
BIDs do not replace councils but offer businesses their own fund that they control.
A banded scale of levy fees is proposed as an equitable way of ensuring all businesses participate in and contribute to the BID. All with a rateable value of £7,500 and above will pay their fair share if the BID is successful.