Firms favour levy proposals

BUSINESSES in South Queensferry have backed plans for an annual levy to fund special initiatives to promote the town.

Local firms voted by 90 to 32 in favour of establishing a business improvement district (BID), which will have a budget of £500,000 over five years.

The turnout – 63 per cent – was the highest recorded for a BID ballot in Scotland.

Initiatives being lined up include street markets, extra parking and wardens to “meet and greet” visitors, especially passengers from cruise ships.

BID chairman Roddy Forfar said the next stage was to elect a board. “All businesses in Queensferry will get the opportunity to nominate themselves. Then the hard work really starts,” he added.

He said they hoped to announce the first project as soon as August. “We need to hit the ground running,” he said.

City council economic development convener Tom Buchanan said: “This is fantastic news for Queensferry.”