LOCAL traders have vowed to resurrect the Chamber of Commerce instead of voting for a Business Improvement District (BID) in the town.

Former Town Mayor Nick Osbourne said a Chamber of Commerce could “galvanize the town” and local traders were happy to re-launch it as they didn’t believe the Penarth BID represented value for money.

During a heated meeting to appease opponents to the BID he questioned how the money raised from the initiative would be spent and how it could benefit the town, the administration costs to run the BID, and whether there were enough supporters in the town to run the steering group.

Following the meeting a website has also been launched, questionpenarthbid.org, as a discussion platform for local traders to share their views and concerns over the Penarth BID.

Ogam Igam owner Bob Jackson, who launched the website, said that he hoped Penarth BID organisers would answer questions posed by local traders.

The Business Improvement District hopes to raise around £425,000 over the space of five years to invest in the town centre.

The money, which would be raised by a two per cent levy above business rates, would be spent on improving parking and accessibility, marketing and promotion and lowering costs.

For the BID to be approved more than 50 per cent of local businesses must vote in favour at a ballot starting on February 2.

But several local traders have now opposed the BID, questioning whether the scheme, which hopes to raise around £85,000 a year, represents value for money.

Wasons owner Nick Osbourne said there was “apathy” in the town to the BID, while Mel Griffin also questioned the administration costs of the BID.

Peter Williams, who has worked on BIDs for a decade and led the meeting, said that BID’s could be a “game changer” in towns and would be more productive than a Chamber of Commerce.

“Despite all the good work Chambers of Commerce do they inevitably become talking shops as they never have any money to bring to the table,” he said.

“In my opinion too much is discussed in meetings and when you meet again nothing has happened.

“BID’s are an opportunity to change that.”

Local trader Bernard Cody questioned how the BID could improve parking in the town centre, asking whether if the likes of schools, surgeries and Penarth Conservative Club offered parking whether the BID would pay public liability costs.

He also questioned why Cornerswell Road and Penarth Leisure Centre were left off the Penarth BID when the industrial estate near Penarth railway station was included.

George Grace, an adviser to the Penarth BID, added that the BID would give local traders a stronger voice and help them look for solutions to problems in the town.

He added that the BID steering group could choose how much it wanted to spend on administration, whether it wanted to do it itself or appoint someone to do it on a part time bases.

During a BID brainstorming meeting earlier this week Penarth Esplanade businesses said improvements to car parking and promoting train travel from the Cardiff region should be made priorities.

Suggestions for increasing parking provision included a better park and ride service and chevron parking on cliff hill.

James Sommerin of Restaurant James Sommerin said: “Completing any of these projects in isolation is difficult, however, a BID gives us a great platform to agree a plan, fund and manage projects all in one. I strongly back the BID and will be voting yes in next month's ballot - I believe it offers excellent value for money.”

The ballot for the Penarth Business Improvement District opens on February 2 and closes on March 2.