TOWN centre entrepreneurs have shown their support for a Business Improvement District in Andover, according to a new survey.

One hundred business owners were asked their opinions on the possibility of bringing a BID system into the town centre, and 66 per cent said the scheme would be a good idea.

The anonymous survey, commissioned by Test Valley Borough Council and conducted by The Means, took place across May and June with the company holding face-to-face interviews with a chosen number of businesses.

Of those 100 businesses, 49 per cent were franchise or chains, 48 per cent were independent companies and the remaining three per cent charities.

Businesses were selected based on their location and type, while ensuring a mix of national and independent firms.

The results show that the majority of businesses thought a BID project was a good idea, while 65 per cent agreed any scheme should be tested through a vote between impacted businesses.

If accepted in a ballot, a BID would be formed in an area of Andover town centre.

Although the area is yet to be defined, any businesses within the BID zone would be liable to pay a levy which would go towards projects to improve the town centre.

These projects would be determined by a BID steering group, which, in other similar cases around the UK, consists of a number of elected business owners.

Currently there are more than 210 similar bid schemes across the country, including in the neighbouring communities of Winchester and Salisbury.

Andover town centre manager Chris Gregory is one of those backing the scheme.

“BIDs are proven to deliver enormous benefits to town and city centres and allow businesses to both develop improvement plans and also to vote on whether they get introduced. I would encourage businesses to get involved in what is a huge possibility for Andover.”