BID Preston is responsible for organising events like the Christmas Lights and PrestFest Pics: Billy Matthews and Gill Lawson

A third term for an organisation that promotes Preston’s city centre and its businesses is due to be backed by Preston City Council.

What’s known as the Preston Business Improvement District has been in place since 2009.

It is funded through a levy on business rates for shops, restaurants, bars and other businesses within a city centre area.

City centre firms are due to vote in late October whether they want to give the BID a third term lasting for five years.

Council officers have recommended the city council’s cabinet endorse the third term.

More than £2.3m has been levied at city centre firms in the past five years to help pay for major events, such as Armed Forces Day, the Lancashire Market in Friargate and lobby the county council about traffic congestion.

Town centre ward councillor Drew Gale said: “I have work closely with the BID team on many and various projects and initiatives over the last few years and have always been impressed with the professional approach, innovation, initiative, and all round contribution to the city.

“It is clear to me they have Preston’s best interests at the heart of everything they do and as such am personally happy to endorse them.”

BID is also heavily involved in the restoration project in areas of the city centre such as Winckley Square.

The vote to decide whether Preston BID continues is due to take place on Monday 31 October.

The city council’s cabinet meets on Wednesday 22 June to decide if it continues to endorse Preston BID.

Do you think the council should back the BID? Are you a city centre business? How will you be voting on the BID? Let us know in the comments below