MANY months of meetings, face-to-face consultations, surveys and sheer hard work will come to a head on Wednesday when businesses across Hexham will have the first opportunity to view proposals to have the town declared a business improvement district (BID).

The ambitious project could see local businesses generate up to £170,000 per year for Hexham projects if the ballot in support of the scheme is positive.

The proposals up for discussion are aimed at delivering specific projects, kick-starting fresh investment and helping to ensure Hexham’s business community continues to grow and prosper, for the benefit of the town as a whole.

Over its first five-year term, the BID would help the existing business community to improve and make the town more appealing to regular and occasional visitors, as well as supporting non-retail and out-of-town businesses.

The initiatives have been pulled together for the first time into a single document that BID organisers are confident will win the support of the wider business community in the town.

At the the last BID meeting in September, businesses heard from the marketing and events manager for the Newcastle NE1 BID, and were inspired by some of its achievements.

The Hexham BID will operate on a different scale to Newcastle, but the principles are the same in terms of acting as a coordinated voice for the business community, smartening the town up and implementing innovative projects that encourage visitors to come more often and stay longer.

The ballot for the BID begins on January 21 and businesses will have four weeks to cast their votes.

If the ballot is successful, the BID will begin next spring and run for a five year period.

Chairman of the Hexham BID steering group, Malcolm Eglin, said: “I hope local businesses, after reading the business plan, will agree that this is a great opportunity for our wonderful town”

The meeting takes place at Northumberland National Park headquarters at Eastburn, South Park, Hexham, from 5.30pm.