AN ORGANISATION formed to cut crime on Knowsley’s business and industrial parks is exploring the possibility of setting up a Business Improvement District (BID).

Knowsley Business Watch was formed 20 years to combat high levels of crime in the borough’s commercial areas.

It is an independent group that is funded by its 300-plus members, comprising businesses across the area.

Now it intends to survey around 1,000 firms occupying space in Knowsley’s business and industrial parks to see if there is support for setting up a BID.

BIDs are funded by a small supplement added onto business rates, and work to improve the general environment of the area they cover, with a focus on physical improvements, cleanliness and safety.

A BID was formed among retailers in Liverpool city centre in 2005 and has been such a success that traders last year voted to extend it for another five years. For a BID to be set up, there first has to be a ballot of businesses within the area.

Chairman of the Business Watch management committee, David Hall, of Hall Cleaning Services, told LDP Business: “Knowsley Business Watch is financially supported by some 300 members out of the 1,000-plus Knowsley companies who have benefited for over 20 years from the service the Business Watch provides.

“Business Watch has had some financial support from the public sector. It looks unlikely that that funding will be available in the future, and we have therefore scanned the horizons to see what others are doing to improve their business neighbourhoods.

“We have been particularly struck by the success of Business Improvement Districts on estates such as Astmoor and Halebank in Halton, Winsford in Vale Royal, Cheshire and the eight industrial estates that make up the Bolton Business Improvement District.

“Knowsley Business Watch has hired Peter Jones and Robin McGrath, of Business Crime Direct, to conduct the initial sample survey of businesses during the next eight weeks. If there seems to be sufficient interest in a Knowsley BID or BIDs, we hope to persuade Knowsley Council to take on the challenge of pressing on to a vote as soon as possible.”