THERE’S less than month to go before the result of the vote which could change the face of Southampton city centre for businesses, shoppers and tourists.

Brochures and voting slips have been delivered to more than 600 businesses in the city centre which fall within the area of the proposed Business Improvement District (BID).

The organisation behind the BID – Go! Southampton – believe a yes vote will help create a “world class” city centre.

If the vote is in favour of the BID a company will be set up and come into being on April 1, 2017.

Businesses in the BID area would pay an extra 1.5 per cent on their business rates (if their rateable value is above £15,000 based on current valuations) which will go to the new organisation to spend on city centre improvements. It is estimated BID will have a yearly budget of around £1 million.

The main areas which Go!Southampton are focusing on are better cleaning, security, transport and events.

Brad Roynon, the chair of the Go! Southampton steering group, believes Southampton has untapped potential which can be exploited with the aid of funding and a co-ordinated effort by businesses.

Mr Roynon said “The timing of this vote couldn’t be better with the building of the cultural quarter and the Watermark plus the redevelopment of the Bargate Centre area Royal Pier on the way.”

He said that there were more than 200 BIDs in towns and cities across the UK and they had a positive impact on their areas.

The BID’s key aim is to make the city centre a more attractive and welcoming to visitors and increase their “dwell time”.

More and better events, which are better marketed, are part of the plan to revitalise the city centre.

Crucially the scheme has the backing of cruise giant Carnival UK which is keen to see Southampton offer more to the million plus passengers who embark from the port.

Mr Roynon acknowledged that £1m is a relatively small sum with which to achieve their ambitious aims.

However, he said: “If we pull together we can make the funding go further.”

He also said the BID would attempt to boost its annual income by around 25 per cent through funding from other sources such as the Solent LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership, government department and the city council.

The BID would also seek to forge links with organisations outside the BID area such as Saints and Southampton Airport.

Businesses fringing the BID zone – like Oxford Street and Charlotte Place – could become associate members and make voluntary financial contributions.

Postal votes have be in the mail by November 2. They go to the Electoral Reform Society before the results on November 4.