Bristol business improvement district shut down after decade in operation

A Bristol business improvement district has shut down after operating for a decade. 

Set up in 2013, the Bedminster Business Improvement District (BID) operated on behalf of 350 local businesses.    

It was funded via a small levy on all eligible businesses in the BS3 area which was spent on local improvements.  

But in September, traders voted to scrap the BID, with businesses on East Street and North Street telling BristolWorld their reasons for doing so.           

The last day of the BID was October 31, with the chair and local pharmacist, Ade Williams, releasing a statement.   

In it, he writes Bedminster has turned from ‘an area struggling to attract traders to a small and mighty collection of high streets’ over the last decade, and that he hopes BS3 is ‘not only sustained but enriched’ moving forward.  

Here is his statement in full: 

“Today marks the end of the Bedminster Business Improvement District and I would like to celebrate all we have achieved. 

“I want to express my profound gratitude to all the directors, businesses, local councillors and the community of partners that have worked with the BID over the years. 

“Without the dedication and commitment to attending meetings to discuss and vote on ideas investing their expertise and time, we would never have been able to deliver all we have. 

“The BID's commitment and effort delivered many memorable and successful projects and events. 

“These individuals have given many hours to the area to make our community the best place to live and ensure that local businesses contribute to creating this. 

“Bedminster has turned from an area struggling to attract traders to a small and mighty collection of high streets over the last decade.  

“We hope that BS3 is not only sustained but enriched with inclusiveness, vitality and community moving forward.  

“It has always been a special joy to meet new people attending the meetings as they have just started a new venture in the area

“Local businesses will all need our support now more than ever; please let us continue to offer this to them. 

“I am personally incredibly grateful to the BID for supporting the Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade over the years. 

“At a time of so much change in our community, I am hopeful that the work of Action Greater Bedminster is helping to steward us to work together to build the future we desire. 

“[The BID website] will now be switched to be home of Bedminster Town Team, which we hope will be able to collaboratively create some projects for the future.”