The results for the Ymlaen Llanelli Renewal Ballot are in and it's a YES!
We’re thrilled to announce that Llanelli town centre businesses have voted to continue Ymlaen Llanelli’s work until 2026! An astounding 95% of businesses voted in favour of a second five-year term so we wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone that supported us – we can’t wait to get to work on all our plans, including getting back to our events ASAP!
Despite current lockdown measures, 43% of eligible businesses returned their ballot papers, and as a result this yes vote will see a collective pot of £450,000 being raised by businesses and invested in the town centre from now until 2026, focusing on key areas such as improving access, developing strategy, and continuing the BID’s well-known annual programme of events.
Chair of the BID, Lesley Richards, is grateful for the result: “It has been a difficult time for us, and we could not have got through it without the help and support of those that believe in the work that we do for our town. This now gives us back the opportunity to thank them. We have a full agenda that will be unleashed as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Businesses within the BID area with a rateable value of £5000 or more received a ballot paper in the post in early February asking whether they would like the BID to continue, with voting in the ballot closing on 4th March. For the BID to be re-established, the renewal ballot must pass on two counts: a simple majority of those voting must be in favour and their votes must represent more than 50% of the total rateable value of the properties that voted – we passed this with flying colours, with 95% of businesses in favour, totalling 94% of the rateable value!
The full results of the reballot can be downloaded below:
Ymlaen Llanelli was first established in November 2015 after a similar vote, and as with all BIDs it was agreed that businesses would get the chance to review to BID’s work and decide on its future at the end of its five-year term.
That future is now set to include continuing and further developing the BID’s calendar of events; extending the Saturday £1 parking scheme to be year-round, as planned before Covid-19; investigating the possibility of installing a big screen in Spring Gardens, and crucially, accessing further grant funding to help the town centre recover from the pandemic.
So, let's get on with it! If you've got any questions about the renewal ballot or our plans, please do get in touch. Thank you!