BUSINESSES in Poole will soon be asked to back an ambitious £1.6 million plan to rejuvenate the town centre.

Poole Town Centre Partnership (PTCP) has announced the new Business Improvement District (BID) ballot dates, when retailers and businesses get to decide whether the town centre BID scheme is implemented.

Businesses in central Poole have been consulted on the proposals - which include a five year investment of around £500,000 for marketing and events, the introduction of LED screens by the railway line and free Wi-Fi across the BID area.

An additional £550,000 investment, also proposed over five years, will be used to conduct a survey highlighting areas needing improvement, to finance work to fill empty shops and launch a loyalty scheme to encourage spending within the town centre.

PTCP board chairman Jonathan Sibbett said: "To ensure the business plan reflects the aspirations for the town centre of all the businesses we have consulted over the past few months, we needed to dedicate more time to making sure the draft business plan was right.

"Now we are pleased to announce the new dates for the ballot when the business people of Poole will have the opportunity to vote to make a difference to the environment of their business."

The BID plan will be dispatched to all retailers and businesses in the town centre by the first week in March.

Voters will then have from March 31 until April 28 to decide whether or not to back the proposals.

Jeanette Walsh, owner of Truly Scrumptious, said: "I support the BID as I feel it will benefit the businesses in Poole.

"The funding can be used to encourage visitors and residents to have a pleasant experience whilst visiting all the areas in Poole, from Falkland Square to Poole Quay.

"The BID will promote footfall, which will lead to growth for all businesses and ensure a better economic future."