BALLOT papers were sent to Keighley companies on Monday as part of the campaign to create a Business Improvement District (BID) in the town centre.

Keighley Town Centre Association is spearheading the plan in order to attract £1 million to Keighley during the next five years.

Bradford Council, one of 400 businesses and other organisations due to receive papers, kickstarted the process by stating it would vote in favour.

The result of the vote – which has also received backing from a host of major Keighley retailers – will be announced on November 13.

If the BID proposal is approved, businesses will in future have to pay 1.5 per cent levy on top of their standard business rate – money used to make the town more attractive to potential customers.

Bradford Council gets a vote as it pays business rates on its town centre premises.

The local authority has worked directly with the association to help the Keighley BID steering group put together its proposals.

If successful, the steering group, led by the private sector, will become an independent not-for-profit company, KeighleyBID, to manage projects during the next five years.

Steering group chairman, Graham Benn, from DIY Solutions in Cavendish Street, said a 'yes' vote made absolute sense for the future of Keighley town centre.

He added: "The council put up the development funds for the BID, is covering the cost of the ballot and will pay for the BID manager for four years. It will cover the costs of the BID’s office accommodation and equipment.

"BID rules prevent the council from replacing council services with funds raised from the BID levy.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for employment, skills and culture, said it is worthwhile the council backing Keighley’s economy and helping businesses to campaign for BID status.

She added: “A healthy and prosperous Keighley Town Centre is what we all want. If there’s a 'yes' vote, Keighley will get the benefit of more than £1 million raised by the levy over five years.”

The council would have a representative on the board of the new KeighleyBID company and collect and pass on the whole levy to the BID company, if the ballot is positive.

For the BID to proceed, more than 50 per cent of the businesses that vote must be in favour and those that vote 'yes' must represent a greater total rateable value than those that say 'no'.

Visit keighleybid.co.uk for more details.