CITY centre business have just a day left to find out if  their vote in a poll could change the face of central Southampton for shoppers, tourists and workers.

Yesterday was the last day for eligible businesses to post their votes in the ballot to decide whether Southampton should become a Business Improvement District which would generate more than £1million a year to spend on improvements and events in the city centre.

Brochures and voting slips have been delivered to more than 600 businesses which fall within the area of the proposed BID.

Voting slips go to the Electoral Reform Society who will be doing the counting.

The result will be announced tomorrow at 2pm in the Tapas Barcelona restaurant in Guildhall Square.

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, a former chief executive of the city council who chairs the Go! Southampton steering group, said he was confident of a win.

"The general response has been very positive," said Mr Roynon.

"Of course you can't be certain how people are going to vote but if there had been an orchestrated 'no' campaign we would have known about it."

Mr Roynon added: "The BID will bring massive benefits to the city centre and the whole city."  

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.

Mr Roynon said the timing of the vote was perfect as the city was undergoing a period of redevelopment with the Watermark scheme, nearing completion, and the development of he old Bargate centre and Royal Pier to come.

Crucially the BID 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 has admitted that £1m is a relatively small sum with which to achieve their ambitious aims. but he 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.

The area covered by the BID includes ABIOVE bar, WestQuay, East Street, bedford Place, London Road, Commercial Road, Town Quay and Western Esplanade.

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