KEIGHLEY councillors have urged local businesses to stump up their share of cash to promote the town centre.

District councillors representing Keighley Central ward say it is essential traders pay the levy towards the Keighley Business Improvement District (BID).

Most of the 380 town centre businesses have already paid up, generating more than £200,000, but as revealed in the Keighley News last week, 96 businesses still owe £33,000 between them.

BID bosses have earmarked every penny for a 12-month programme of activities to encourage more shoppers and tourists to visit Keighley, and warn that spending may have to be cut back without these funds.

On behalf of the BID, Bradford Council collects money from each trader through the business rates system. BID bosses have not yet decided whether to take court action against defaulters.

Cllr Khadim Hussain, a former Lord Mayor of Bradford, admitted some Keighley businesses are struggling and might have to negotiate with Bradford Council to pay by instalments.

But he added: “Ultimately, they will have to pay it – it is their responsibility.

"Most people voted to support the BID and the others have to bow to the will of the majority.

“In the long term, the BID is beneficial for all businesses. They will get a lot of support and help from membership. They will make their money back twice or three times over.”

Fellow councillor, Abid Hussain, agreed the BID will be useful for Keighley, adding: “There are already cuts in council funding, so businesses just need to pay up.

“Court action is not necessary if they come to an agreement, so long as it gets paid. They must recognise the council is willing to compromise.”

Cllr Zafar Ali, who also represent Keighley Central ward on Bradford Council, said he did not want to comment on such a “contentious” issue.

The BID was the brainchild of Keighley Town Centre Association, which conducted a ballot of all businesses in the town centre late last year.

Almost 80 per cent of businesses agreed to the setting up of the BID, which allowed the council to send out bills to all businesses with a rateable value of more than £6,000.

This annual levy on the business rates will raise about £1.4 million during the next five years to fund an improvement programme devised by the businesses themselves.