Traders urged to back plans for Dingwall revival
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
LEADERS of a scheme that promises to bring Dingwall back to its roots as a first-rate market town are asking traders for support.
The Dingwall Means Business group will be asking shop owners to vote in favour being part of Business Improvement District (Bid) scheme.
Under the project, some 300 town centre traders and landlords would pay an annual levy, which, in other Bid schemes, is usually between one per cent and four per cent of their annual rateable value.
The money would be put into one big pot and spent on town centre improvements to boost trade and tourism and open the door to other funding streams.
Project leader George Murray believes it will put power back into the hands of shop owners.
He said: "As we have seen with the introduction of parking charges, officials are not listening to business people in Dingwall, but Bid could change that.
"It would establish Bid as an authority that would work as a professional, business-oriented counter-balancer to harmful decisions taken elsewhere. This would be an organisation of first recourse that could advocate and lobby for the town and for what the town deserves."
Mr Murray will talk about the plans at a business breakfast being held at Ross County Football Club.
He added: "Dingwall is a market town and we should develop and promote it as such to maximise every single opportunity available that can make a profit for our businesses and allow the town to thrive.
"People should be able to make a good living in their home town, and currently there is a feeling that despite serious setbacks, like parking charges, we are moving in the right direction.
"One of the big myths about Bid schemes is that they exist to tell businesses what to do.
"On the contrary, it is for businesses to tell us what they need done. That is our objective."
What’s your view? Could Dingwall benefit from a Bid scheme? Email us at newsdesk@spp-group.com
