Unfortunately BIDs divide opinion and create resentment amongst voters quite easily, and it’s a shame BIDs are divisive in this way when BID’s are meant to bring the business community together. The effects of such resentment in BID towns has been quite startling from verbal abuse to boycotting other businesses, which is uncalled for which ever someones voting persuasion.

Towns developing a BID proposal go through go through consultation, campaign and ballot phases, during which businesses align themselves towards a YES or NO vote. Because a BID proposal by it’s very nature is set up to mobilise a YES vote, as has been seen in other BID proposal town’s NO campaigners are easily vilified.

Often businesses are afraid to publicly express their opposition to a BID for fear of being unfairly labelled as “anti” their town within a close business community. All everyone is doing is making a decision in the best interests of their business.

Even after a BID ballot, which ever way it goes, there’s still likely to be some resentment of others amongst the business community. With YES and NO sides, is it really worth months months of resentment and counter argument, when all the businesses could properly unite and spend their time coming together in other ways?

BIDs divide business communities.