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

There’s been a re-election in Preston and a very comprehensive one.

Preston’s Business Improvement District have secured a third term of representing 800 city centre firms.

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Winning more than three-quarters of the vote the group, which works through a levy applied to business rates for firms within the city centre, will now work a further five years.

The BID is behind many of the city centre events including the Christmas Lights switch on, FamilyFest and many other events – it also helped fund Blog Preston’s app when we started out. It will be likely to have a budget of £2.5million to spend during the next half decade.

Chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Babs Murphy said: “This result sends out a very clear message to businesses and investors that things are now starting to happen in our city.

“This five year term represents a very real opportunity for businesses in Preston to invest together, to work together, and to influence together to deliver improvements that make a difference to the city centre.

“Businesses told us that they wanted the Preston BID to deliver a range of activities that increases footfall, dwell time, and spend per head in the city centre. They also told us that they wanted the city centre to be a clean, welcoming, and safe place to be. We have delivered on that promise but there is much more to be done. This mandate gives us the opportunity to add to what has already been achieved.

“It’s a testament to the business community that they once again supported a Business Improvement District have many of them have worked hard with the BID team to deliver real change in the City in the most challenging economic conditions.”

FamilyFest taking place in the Flag Market

This year’s Christmas Lights switch on is organised by BID, with M People’s Heather Small headlining the free concert in the city centre.

Chair of the Business Improvement District Committee John Boydell said: “We are very pleased to have received support from the businesses we represent which will see the BID continue until at least 2022.

“We have achieved much since the project first began, but we are acutely aware that there is still a lot to do. Businesses who contribute to the project can be assured that we will continue to support and promote them and the city centre’s business offer through all our work. We look forward to working very closely with them over next BID term.”

What do you think of the work BID does? Are you a city centre business? Let us know in the comments below