MASSES of ideas to improve the town were put forward by businesses during consultation on the Poole Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID).

Consultation meetings organised by the Poole Town Centre Partnership were held across a two day period and gave businesses the chance to share their opinions on a business plan to help the town prosper over the next five years.

Retailers and business owners attended meetings across the designated BID area which includes the Quay, High Street, Dolphin Shopping Centre and surrounding streets.

Proposals included looking at ways to improve the public realm with cleaner streets and rationalising street furniture, enforcing regulations to improve security in some areas of the town, offering an incentive scheme to Poole BID employees to encourage them to shop in the area and improved signs.

Other ideas included holding a variety of good quality events throughout the town and increasing marketing activity to show Poole as a destination to visit, and creating identities for BID zones while linking them to present a united approach for the town.

"These meetings provided us with a great opportunity to hear what the business community of Poole want to see from their BID," said Jonathan Sibbett, chairman of Poole Town Centre Partnership Board.

"It was refreshing to see people come forward from each of the BID zones. So many ideas were discussed and we will now take all of these and identify the key priorities for each area to progress the business plan.

"A BID scheme could generate £330,000 per year, with potential to double that through match funding - this money could help us to achieve so much over five years to bring new benefits and prospects to Poole."

Huw Moore, general manager of Marks & Spencer in Poole said: "We think is is important for the businesses in Poole to get behind the proposed BID to ensure that their voices are heard to shape the future of the town centre. It is only by uniting together that we can make a real difference."

A draft business plan will be presented at the Dolphin Shopping Centre on November 12, when BID voters can comment on the plan.

Businesses can still register their views through the online survey at poolebid.com/have-your-say. There is more information on the new website poolebid.com or contact info@poolebid.com.