Businesses in Chippenham have voted to set up a Business Improvement District (BID) and pay a levy to fund town projects.

Nearly three quarters – 73 per cent – of the 130 people who took part in the confidential vote were in favour of having a BID, according to ballot results released by the Electoral Reform Services.

It will run for a five-year term from April 2015 and is expected to generate £1.5m to be spent in the town centre.

BID manager Carolyn Brownell said: “I’m obviously delighted with the result and thank all the businesses I’ve been working with.

“The real work starts now in delivering the new initiatives and the team aims to get started immediately in forming the new BID company and adding in the extra value.”

The result has been welcomed by Chippenham Town Council leader Desna Allen, who said: “I’m absolutely delighted that businesses were so emphatically in favour.”

Chippenham Chamber of Commerce president Chris Bonsor said: “It could be a really big boost to the Chippenham economy and change the town centre completely.”

For details contact, Carolyn Brownell on 07879 995061 or carolyn@chippenhambid.co.uk