The group behind the Letchworth Garden City Business Improvement District is determined to work together to improve the town.

The initiative – which started in March 2014 and runs until 2019 – sees businesses paying an additional annual charge on top of their business rates to generate additional investment into the town centre.

Following the group’s annual meeting, the BID has a newly-elected 11-strong council, with Norma Wright of Heckford Norton solicitors coming in as chairman and Just For Me’s Maureen Davison appointed vice-chairman.

During the meeting, the group set out the areas in which it can improve, and welcomed council members to the team.

After admitting that 2014/15 was a year of transition, the BID group has earmarked improving its two-way communication with levy payers as one of its chief aims.

The group is aiming to implement a comprehensive programme of events and promotions, with a backbone of monthly activities, along with four to six larger scale events per year, such as this weekend’s Food and Garden Festival.

Lobbying for improved access and parking, multi-storey enhancements, and working with landlords to attract businesses to the town, are all features of the BID action plan.

The group has also gained approval for the installation of footfall counters in the town, subject to an engineer’s final report.

Love Letchworth operations director James Peachey said: “We still have some vacancies within the BID council, which will be filled in due course.

“But I am pleased to announce we have made an offer to an events and promotions co-ordinator, which has been accepted. The person is young, events-qualified and will start in the next couple of weeks.

“We are also building a new Love Letchworth website to be ready this summer which will become a key tool in promoting the town, its businesses and events.”

Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation chief executive John Lewis said: “There are lots of strong ideas on how we can make improvements to the town and the BID is important in getting everyone together.”

The BID office now operates from The Arcade, rather than Eastcheap, in a move to work in ‘cheaper premises while maintaining a shop-front location that’s accessible to businesses and the public.’

For more information on the BID visit www.shopletchworth.com/lgcbid or receive communications from the group at www.facebook.com/LoveLetchworth.

Find out more about the Food & Garden Festival on page 8 today.