Bangor Business Improvement District (BID) have written to levy payers to put themselves forward as board members, after the previous board members recently stood down.

Following a previous appeal only one person has put themselves forward for the new board and there are now fears that millions of pounds of future funding to regenerate Bangor High Street could be lost.

The Bangor BID was established on April 1st 2016 to help realise the vision that Bangor is the place for visiting, working, enjoying and living in North Wales.

BID is designed to be a partnership between the local business community and local authority to develop projects and services that will benefit the trading environment within the boundary of a commercial area. BIDs are funded in whole, or in part, by a levy which is additional to the non-domestic rates. The additional funding raised is used in the specified area to improve the public realm, promote business and make the area more profitable for business.

Bangor businesses voted in favour of the Bangor BID in September 2015, 42% of eligible businesses voted and 68% of those voted in favour of the BID.

Businesses in Bangor pay a compulsory levy to BID, approximately 1-2% of their rateable value, this is then used to invest in events, maintenance and to approve the appearance of the BID area. There are over 300 businesses in Bangor and BID is expected to raise over £600,00 over five years, which will then be invested to improve the city.

Additional funding for BIDs is available from the Welsh Government and potentially millions of pounds of funding could be available from the North Wales Strategic Partnership.

Fears are now growing that if not enough people put themselves forward additional funding for Bangor BID could be lost and, as a last resort, the BID could be tendered out to external management companies.

The letter to BID members read: “Following on previous communication with regards to the election of a new board for the Bangor BID, whilst expressions of intent have been made from a number of people, unfortunately only Pam Poynton has put herself forward to stand on the board.

“Having discussed the position with Pam it is clear to her that without the support of a strong Board, this is too onerous a task to take on so whilst she is happy to stand as a Chair of a new board, this can only be done of other parties come forward to say they are prepared to sit on the Board and take an active role.

“The lack of people prepared to help create further change and improvements is disappointing and it is important to highlight that considerable effort has already been made to engage with the North Wales Strategic Partnership in order to secure a share of the millions of pounds that will be available in additional funding. It should be emphasised that without a strong BID presence or a similar body, this funding may be jeopardised and will probably not be available at anything like the indicated level, if at all.

“We therefore wish to remind everyone that an EGM will be held at The Penrhyn Hall on July 31st at 6pm, to vote on the following two points, although proxy votes will be taken in advance up to 5pm on July 29th if legitimised and sent to bangor@agbbangorbid.co.uk

1. To elect Pam Poynton as Chair, provided sufficient support is received from additional partie to create a strong board
2. In the absence of point 1 being elected that an external source such as The Means be approached to run the BID on the levy payers behalf.

“If you feel you can make a difference to the High Street, no matter how small, and would like to put yourself forward to represent a new look Bangor BID, please apply to bangor@agbbangorbid.co.uk, or by dropping in a letter to the City Offices, Ffordd Gwynedd, Bangor LL57 1DT, marked Bangor BID Board Application.”