Businessplan

I am delighted to be able to present to you the Albion Business Consortium’s (ABC) 2006 – 2011 plan for a Business Improvement District (BID) on our estates. This plan has been compiled after consultation and discussion with companies both large and small who work on the estates. We have also been fortunate enough to receive advice and support from a number of national organisations who, like us, see the potential in the area. Whilst I and the members of the ABC are grateful for this assistance, the document that you see before you represents what we, the people who work on the estates, believe are the solutions to the key challenges that we face. The BID is an opportunity for us to take control of our business environment and to deliver long term sustainable improvement to it.

I do sincerely hope that you have felt informed and involved in this process, and this, the final Business Improvement District proposal reflects what you would like to see delivered over the next five years. Through the ABC and prior to that previously the Albion Business Forum we have already seen improvements on the estates. These have been financed by either voluntary contributions from businesses working here or from support - both financial and in kind - from a number of other organisations. However we cannot rely on external monies being always available, in fact, in many cases we know that these sources are going to stop. Therefore as businesses we have a choice to make, whether we want to continue to build upon the foundations that we have laid or whether we want to risk slipping backwards.

believe a ‘yes’ vote will ensure that we continue to work together, in partnership, to further develop the area into a safe, successful place where we, our staff and others wish to continue to invest and work. A ‘no vote’ will reverse the benefits that we have gained, most notably we will lose the ability to work together to reduce crime and improve security. I would ask you to carefully read this proposal, and join with me and vote in favour of the ABC Business Improvement District. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Geraldine Thomas who is heading the BID support team.

Yours sincerely,

Stuart Fell

Chairman of Shadow ABC BID Board (Now Albion BID Co Ltd)