Maxine Dyer was afforded a great deal of space in the Gazette dated October 17 to write an ambivalent letter about the BID (Business Improvement District) scheme.

I have nothing to do with Cherish Chippenham, however, I have been co-opted, because I am a Chippenham town councillor, to sit on a committee under a Wiltshire Council umbrella to consider who should be appointed with the task of seeing whether our town should adopt a BID.

The appointment has now been awarded to the Mosaic Partnership. Mosaic’s tasks will include the collection of data on our town and ensuring all relevant parties are fully briefed, particularly businesses, so that we know what the BID scheme would do, if embraced.

Naturally it only happens if there is a vote to go forward or alternatively it may be declined. The committee upon which I sat took a great deal of trouble in considering the tenders of those organisations wishing be appointed as the successful party to deal with the process of making all the ramifications of joining the BID scheme known to relevant parties who, by voting, do by majority and thereby decide the way forward.

Reading the letter gives the impression that businesses will be saddled with our town becoming a business improvement district against the will of the majority entitled to vote and who will have to invest funds to improve the town. Nothing could be further from the case as this is democracy in action.

Obviously a business owner does have to exercise his democratic vote (rather than do nothing and then complain). The amount of additional money raised (as a levy) to fund the BID scheme is proportional to the commercial area in use for any one business. Those with the biggest business rates have the greater burden and small businesses are (if they applied) able to get a generous reduction in their business rate via a central government grant to Wiltshire Council.

A number of towns have embraced the scheme and these schemes are but one further tool to ensure that Chippenham does not decline but has an invigorated centre that permeates outwards.

Some successful BID towns ensure that not only does every business in the centre take part, other interested parties such as public bodies and community and voluntary groups also participate.

Finally, as Maxine Dyer describes Cherish Chippenham as a self-appointed, self-promoting group, I say okay, bring on BID and see what can be done in addition to their good work. The more the merrier for Chippenham rejuvenation provided there is some co-ordination where necessary.

Coun Robert Giles, Yewstock Crescent West, Chippenham.