THE team responsible for bringing tens of thousands of visitors to Northwich over the last decade has been given the green light for another five years. 

The Northwich Business Improvement District team (BID) is funded by a levy on local businesses who must vote, every five years, on whether they’re providing value for money.   

In the latest ballot to decide whether to extend BID’s term until September 2029, an overwhelming 83 percent businesses voted to retain the team’s service.

As well as increasing footfall in the town by helping to organise large-scale events such as Piña Colada and the Christmas Extravaganza, BID also invests in keeping the town centre looking its best, reduces crime, offers help with marketing, and delivers training courses to businesses keen to grown.  

With its new mandate from Northwich’s commercial sector, BID will be able to go on helping make the town an even better place to invest, work, live, and visit.

Northwich BID manager, Nikki Halliday, says the team has been responsible for increasing footfall by tens of thousands in the last ten years, while at the same time, reaching out on social and other media to millions of potential consumers and visitors to the town.

She added: “It’s great to know businesses in Northwich want to see the town continue to develop and flourish as much as we do, and it’s brilliant to receive their support.

“As a team, we've seen Northwich go through some challenging circumstances over the last five years with a global pandemic, Brexit, the floods, and the changing face of the high street.

"Despite this, Northwich has positioned itself to rise to those challenges, and we are now seeing our town grow and prosper.

"This is down to the hard work, investment, and determination from the BID and its essential partners including local businesses, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Northwich Town Council, and Groundwork, who manage the operations of the BID.

“Thank you to each business which voted, and as a BID team, we can’t wait to continue working with Northwich’s fantastic businesses and the local community going forward.”

Support for BID has grown by 34 per cent since the town’s businesses were first ballot in 2014.

This increase in support to 83 per cent ‘highlights the additional value’ to businesses large and small, who report significant increases in footfall and sales from BID-led activities and events, according to Nikki. 

Owner of The Salthhouse NW bar at Hayhurt Quay, and chairman of Northwich BID, Ellis Wardle, said: “As a business owner myself and chairman of the BID board, I've really seen the value having a BID in Northwich brings.

“It’s fantastic the town’s businesses have voted resoundingly for a further five-year tenure.

“I have no doubt the next five years will deliver even greater opportunities for business growth, and cement Northwich as the leading market town in Cheshire.”