Ballot papers are going out next week to decide the future of Dorchester's Business Improvement District (BID).

Those eligible to vote should get the papers from Monday, May 22 with a return date for the postal forms of no later than Wednesday, June 28 at 5pm with the count taking place the following day.

The ballot will be decided by a majority vote and will decide if the organisation is to continue.

Dorchester's BID is one of the longest established in the county and works by businesses paying a percentage of their rateable value into the BID in return for services and initiatives which might attract people to use them.

There has been criticism of the BID in the past, over whether it offers value for money and whether it has the right approach to business in an economy which has seen big changes in the way many people shop and find local services.

Dorchester town councillor Alistair Chisholm questioned at a town council meeting in November 2020 whether the £1.5million he claimed the BID had collected in fees over 12 years was value for money, adding that many traders did not believe it was.

He also questioned why the organisation had not been officially accredited and called for an official review of its effectiveness – a request which was not taken up by other councillors.

Cllr Chisholm's comments were countered by the BID with a list of dozens of things it had done, and is doing, for the town, including live music events, the Town Ambassadors, competitions and Christmas trees.

The BID has a business plan with much of its programme generated by consultation events, which included suggestions for more information displays and maps, improving the approaches to Dorchester; introducing free public wi-fi; more planting and greenery; creating new jobs; a Dorchester app'; support for youth organisations and radio-link for quickly passing information.

On its online pages, the BID claims membership helps reduce business costs, improves marketing opportunities; helps increase visitor footfall, arranges training courses and supports and encourages new businesses.

Among its annual activities is competitions for children which encourage visits to town centre shops and other businesses and the sponsoring of the Town Ambassadors who help visitors find their way to key attractions.

The BID's Phil Gordon was appointed project manager in January 2007 and project director in March 2008 after the organisation came into being.

"I was delighted to be given the opportunity to help with the Business Improvement District initiative as I believe that, as the county town, Dorchester has a lot to offer but needs this kind of project to act as a catalyst for change and improvement," he writes on the BID website.

"We have a talented and dedicated team of people (drawn from local businesses and the community) who are all firmly behind the project and we're all determined to make the BID a success.

"In doing so, we hope to help make Dorchester a more vibrant place to work in, live in or just visit whilst on holiday."

Projector director Phil Gordon