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New business improvement district proposal for Nairn

Cllr Michael Green, left, and Michael Boylan, right, chairman of Nairn Businesses, in Nairn High Street, who are both kean to get a BIDS scheme operating in Nairn.
Cllr Michael Green, left, and Michael Boylan, right, chairman of Nairn Businesses, in Nairn High Street, who are both kean to get a BIDS scheme operating in Nairn.

Community leaders are weighing up the potential benefits of a business improvement district scheme in Nairn.

A series of meetings will be arranged over the next few months to measure the appetite for paying a levy which would then be reinvested to assist in the wider economy of the town.

These schemes have proved lucrative elsewhere in Scotland, including Inverness, and are established as a retail-based and/or tourist-based initiative.

Local councillor, Michael Green, who is keen to offer townsfolk the opportunity to decide on the proposal, said: “We will be looking for a meeting in late February or early March with Bid Scotland to start the process.

“We’ve been working on this for the past couple of months and have formed a steering group involving people with real strengths in their own particular field.”

He said there had been considerable interest and support from community councillors and others.

Mr Green added: “A Nairn Bid will be determined by its members, which is the business community. It would attract funding to enable it to do what people want and it is whatever people see as the future and playing to our strengths – our beaches, our golf courses, our town.

“It’s not for me to prejudge what the business community will come back with.”

A business plan will be drafted for the town’s business community, who will then decide by ballot whether or not to establish a Bid scheme for Nairn.

The Scottish Government will provide a £20,000 float to kick-start the process.

The local business community will establish for itself what levy people are prepared to pay towards the long-term running of the initiative, based on a percentage of their rateable value.

Michael Boylan, chairman of the Association of Nairn Businesses, said: “We’re pleased to be involved with the proposal at this early stage.

“My role will be to ensure that the Bid proposal maximises the return for local business and then make a recommendation to our members on the best way forward.

“If we can get this right, it could make a real difference to the town.”

Those steering the project expect the groundwork to take about 10 months to complete. Consultants will be appointed in due course.