Businesses in Lerwick town centre have been voting for the past six weeks on a proposed third term of the town centre Business Improvement District, managed by Living Lerwick.
Following the vote, the result announced today returned a positive vote in favour of continuing to work together to improve the town centre and support fellow business owners for the benefit of the town, and Shetland as a whole.
90 votes were received representing 62.5% of member businesses. Out of these, 67 voted in favour giving a 73% majority vote for the BID.
The BID was initially set up in 2012 to enable businesses to work together to create a more vibrant, viable and sustainable town centre for Lerwick, and has generated over £325,000 of income in addition to levy payments for town centre activities. The BID is managed by a project team and an un-paid voluntary Board of Directors representing different business sectors.
Living Lerwick Directors and project staff would like to thank all those businesses who have shown their support and look forward to working together to deliver the events and activities outlined in the new five-year business plan.
The business plan was developed earlier this year following lengthy consultation when all town centre businesses were asked for their views on priority actions.
Living Lerwick Chairman, Steve Mathieson said “We are grateful for the support of our member businesses and glad the majority feel we are doing a good job of supporting them and improving the town centre area.
“As businesses recover from an extended period of disruption due to Covid, it is more important than ever that we work together to ensure our town centre remains a thriving and attractive area to visit, live, work and do business.”
There are currently vacancies on the Living Lerwick Board of Directors and member businesses are asked to consider nominating a representative to express their business sector views, concerns and ideas directly.