Newham businesses have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a third term as a Business Improvement District (BID) in a record-breaking ballot.  

Making BID history, the firms and organisations from Truro’s industrial quarter that took part in the month-long postal ballot unanimously voted ‘yes’ to a third term.  

Newham BID also met the second test of achieving 100 per cent of the total rateable value of all the votes cast. 

The BID is funded through a levy on rateable value, which for Newham is 2.5 per cent of the rateable value of the premises, supplemented by additional contributions, either cash or in-kind that the BID secures.  

According to data held by British BIDs, no other UK BID has ever scored so highly on both tests. 

It means that at least £428,000 will now be invested in projects and services on the industrial estate to help improve and raise the profile of this thriving part of Truro. 

Newham BID has been overseeing the area since 2013 when businesses first voted to invest collectively in the scheme. 

Securing a third five-year term will allow the BID to continue to deliver a range of projects and services, including maintaining the safety and security on the estate, as well as making sure the area remains an accessible, clean, tidy and attractive place to work and invest. 

The new five-year term will begin on September 1. The BID will then deliver the projects outlined in the 26-page business plan, including supporting businesses through networking, training and lobbying and promoting firms through Newham’s news articles and social media channels. 

All of this will be done on top of the day-to-day job of maintaining the safety, security and general look and feel of the estate through landscaping works. 

Newham BID’s chair Leigh Ibbotson, owner of property management group Cher Varya in Heron Way, said such solid backing would help to strengthen this close-knit industrial site. 

“It’s an incredible result from the ballot, and we couldn’t be more pleased to know so many of Newham’s businesses and organisations have given us the chance to improve what we have here,” he said. 

Cameron MacQuarrie, managing director of Macsalvors mobile crane company in Newham Road, said: “The BID pulls us together as one cohesive voice. This has been especially important during the recent ongoing saga with the road narrowing.  

“Since Newham BID has been here, the estate has gone from strength to strength. We now have security cameras, security patrols and attractive signs giving directions. The whole place is much tidier and cleaner creating an immediate good impression to all customers and visitors.”