A PROPOSAL to establish a scheme aimed at revitalising some of Barry’s retail areas has been discussed.

Holton Road traders were informed about the Business Improvement District (BID) plan at a meeting at the Civic Office, in Barry, on Tuesday, January 23.

Vale council cabinet member for regeneration and planning, Cllr Jonathan Bird said: “Last Tuesday the Vale of Glamorgan hosted a meeting for Barry traders to hear all about the benefits and pit falls of establishing a Business Improvement District. There was an opportunity to learn about how BIDs have worked elsewhere in the UK and the benefits that have arisen for the local businesses.

“Adrian Field, executive director of the Cardiff BID and former head of Worcester BID, outlined how the BID had worked for both Cardiff and Worcester and answered questions from the floor.”

In 2015 Penarth traders overwhelmingly rejected a BID scheme in a ballot. Nearly 65 per cent of businesses voted no in the ballot.

For the BID to be approved more than 50 per cent of votes cast needed to be in favour.

The initiative aimed to provide better parking and accessibility, marketing and promotion, a strong independents sector and lower business costs in the town centre.

It also aimed to give local traders a stronger voice and help them solve problems in the town.

But opponents to the BID questioned how the money raised from the initiative would be spent and how it could benefit the town, the administration costs to run the BID, and whether there were enough supporters in the town to run the steering group.

The Barry BID will be discussed at a future meeting, date yet to be decided.