WINCHESTER'S businesses have voted to turn the city centre into a Business Improvement District (BID), but by a slim margin.

A postal ballot managed by Winchester City Council declared that 54 per cent of votes were in favour. It will see firms pay an extra 1.5 per cent on their non-domestic rates, to be channelled into street management, community safety and marketing projects.

However, only 45 per cent of businesses eligible bothered to vote.

City centre jeweller Jeremy France, chairman of the partnership, said he was "thrilled" that the BID was going ahead. He said it meant that more than £2m over the next five years will go towards projects such as chewing gum cleaning, graffiti removal and more flowers.

It will also mean more Police Community Support Officers on the city beat.

"This money belongs to the businesses of Winchester and it's up to them to tell us what they would like," said Mr France.

Asked about the closeness of the result, he added: "I understand about businesses not committing to things, they're busy people.

"It was not much of surprise that only half of them voted - it's not very different to a political arena, but we were very pleased that we made it."

The area covered by the BID includes the city centre from the railway station down to Chesil Street and along part of Romsey Road.

The BID will last for a maximum of five years, when a further ballot could be held to see if it continues.