PLANS to spend millions of pounds on Bournemouth’s shopping and trading areas will be unveiled today.

Businesses will together spend £7million over five years to attract more customers.

Plans include new PR campaigns, better signs, and smarter streets.

The cash will come from the town centre and coastal Business Improvement Districts (BIDS).

At the official launch, held at the Bournemouth International Centre, more detailed spending plans will be revealed.

Alun Williams, manager of the Coastal BID, said: “We will be announcing a marketing campaign for this autumn and Christmas.”

The Coastal BID will be unveiling support for a new family adventure event in April 2013.

Beales boss Tony Brown, chairman of the town centre BID, and Des Simmons, chairman of the coastal BID, will be outlining the plans.

The six Town Rangers, who are now patrolling, will also be introduced to traders.

They started work last month and the red-jacketed helpers are the most visible face of the BIDs that have been introduced so far.

The coastal BID was passed with 237 votes in favour from 323 cast. The town centre BID was passed with 166 in favour from 200 cast.

Nigel Hedges, president of the chamber, said when it was passed: “We couldn’t even imagine it not going ahead.

“The opportunities that would have been lost – it’s not something we wanted to contemplate.”

Future plans include better signage to shops and car parks and a new website to market the town.

Traders will fund the work through a levy worth 1.5 per cent of their business rates.