The people behind a scheme to help local businesses in Carmarthen which has resulted in bailiffs turning up at shops have responded to critics and insisted that the project can and will work.
Carmarthen BID (Business Improvement District) was set up in 2020 after a consultation period and a vote which saw 65% of those balloted backing the scheme. It sees eligible businesses (those with a rateable value of over £6,000) pay 1.5% of their rateable value on top of business rates, every year for five years. You can keep up to date with the latest Carmarthenshire news by signing up to the local newsletter here.
This then creates a pot of money to be spent by the BID management - with the aim being to improve the town centre area of Carmarthen and make it more attractive to visitors and more profitable as somewhere to trade for businesses. The controversy which has ignited since the BID was set up is based on a number of factors, some of which were not helped by the Covid pandemic and the national lockdown which came into force in March, 2020 - after the BID ballot had been completed and as the scheme was in the process of being implemented.
