Business park firms agree extension to levy initiative

LANCING Business Park firms have agreed to extend a deal which sees them pay an extra levy to make vital improvements to the park.
BID chairman Michael Punter (centre-right), with supporters of the BID W31573H13BID chairman Michael Punter (centre-right), with supporters of the BID W31573H13
BID chairman Michael Punter (centre-right), with supporters of the BID W31573H13

The park has been a BID – a business improvement district – for nearly five years, and a vote to extend it by another five years last week was successful.

The businesses will now continue to pay a levy on top of business rates, based on a firm’s rateable values, which will be spent purely on projects agreed by the group.

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BID chairman and managing director of Parafix Michael Punter said he was delighted to see the deal extended.

He said: “It’s a self-help concept. We have taken it upon ourselves to manage certain facilities in the park.

“We came to realise that some services previously provided by the council were diminishing and we wanted to try to improve the view of Lancing Business Park.”

Projects which have been implemented because of the BID have included installation of a CCTV system, better signage and recycling systems.

The businesses also have a greater voice, as they can collectively lobby for improvements.

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, out Thursday, August 1.

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