Chair of Bedminster BID shares touching statement on last day of operation

The chair of Bedminster BID has expressed his gratitude to south Bristol’s traders on the last day of its operation.

Traders voted to discontinue the Bedminster Business Improvement District (BID) in September, after a decade, and its last day was on October 31.

Set up in 2013, the BID operated on behalf of 350 local businesses and was funded via a small levy on all eligible businesses in the BS3 area which was then spent on community projects.

Over the decade it existed, the BID created Make Sunday Special events, supported the Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade and Upfest, and improved the local street scene with murals and pocket parks.

But the BID has attracted criticism, including from East Street traders impacted by nearby road closures and building work. And Asda Bedminster previously withdrew its support for the BID in 2018.

Ade Williams, local pharmacist and chair of the organisation, said the BID had delivered “many memorable and successful projects and events”.

He added that the BID had turned Bedminster “from an area struggling to attract traders to a small and mighty collection of high streets”.

Read the statement in full:

“Today marks the end of the Bedminster Business Improvement District and I would like to celebrate all we have achieved.

Bedminster BID supported events like Bedminster Lantern Parade, which sadly won’t take place this year – photo: Rob Browne

“I want to express my profound gratitude to all the directors, businesses, local councillors and the community of partners that have worked with the BID over the years.

“Without the dedication and commitment to attending meetings to discuss and vote on ideas investing their expertise and time, we would never have been able to deliver all we have.

“The BID’s commitment and effort delivered many memorable and successful projects and events.

“These individuals have given many hours to the area to make our Community the best place to live and ensure that local businesses contribute to creating this.

“Bedminster has turned from an area struggling to attract traders to a small and mighty collection of high streets over the last decade.

“We hope that BS3 is not only sustained but enriched with inclusiveness, vitality and community moving forward. It has always been a special joy to meet new people attending the meetings as they have just started a new venture in the area

“Local businesses will all need our support now more than ever; please let us continue to offer this to them.

“I am personally incredibly grateful to the BID for supporting the Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade over the years.

“At a time of so much change in our community, I am hopeful that the work of Action Greater Bedminster is helping to steward us to work together to build the future we desire.

“The (BID website) will now be switched to be home of Bedminster Town Team, which we hope will be able to collaboratively create some projects for the future.”

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Bedminster Lantern Parade makes a triumphant comeback
• Huge food and drink festival returns to south Bristol
• Upfest 2023 cancelled amid ‘rising costs’

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: