ABOUT US

ABOUT US

Businesses in Aberdare have voted to form a Business Improvement District to improve their town centre. Having a Business Improvement District puts Aberdare in good company.

There are now over 300 BIDs across the UK, working successfully to enhance commercial areas for their members.

Our programme pledges to deliver services above and beyond those currently provided by the borough council.

This ‘additionality’ is fundamental to the way in which the BID works and is ensured by a baseline agreement between Our Aberdare and Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council.

Our Pledges Are To Work To Improve:

Look & Feel
marketing & events
Information & Communication
Accessibility & Parking
LOOK & FEEL

A good-looking town means happier visitors.

Our Aberdare will:

  • Improve signage in and around the town – we will welcome more visitors with attractive signage and will work with the Council and the local college to develop some eye-catching new ideas.
  • Brighten up empty units – empty shops don’t look good. Our Aberdare will aim to make the windows of empty shops more interesting and colourful with window vinyls.
  • Decorate the town – we feel Aberdare would benefit from brightening up and we will work with local artists on ideas about how this could be done. We will also put up bunting and flags around the town for events, plus invest in greening initiatives.
  • Bring waste ground back to use – we will be able to identify these areas and work with partners on the potential to develop them for community use.

THE LOOK & FEEL

A good-looking town means happier visitors.

Our Aberdare will:

  • Improve signage in and around the town – we will welcome more visitors with attractive signage and will work with the Council and the local college to develop some eye-catching new ideas.
  • Brighten up empty units – empty shops don’t look good. Our Aberdare will aim to make the windows of empty shops more interesting and colourful with window vinyls.
  • Decorate the town – we feel Aberdare would benefit from brightening up and we will work with local artists on ideas about how this could be done. We will also put up bunting and flags around the town for events, plus invest in greening initiatives.
  • Bring waste ground back to use – we will be able to identify these areas and work with partners on the potential to develop them for community use.

MARKETING & EVENTS

We need to encourage more people to visit our town.

Our Aberdare aims to:

  • Create a annual calendar of events – including food and music festivals (involving local choirs) that will appeal to a wide range of people. We will ensure that these took place across the entire town including Commercial Street, Market Street and Victoria Square.

 

INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION

There is no central information point where visitors can go to find out what our town has to offer.

We aim to:

  • Develop an Aberdare hub – which would act as an office-base for the town. Information would be available about the town for visitors wanting to know more.

The town has a history in iron and the hub would be able to direct visitors to local places of interest such as the Cynon Valley Museum. The hub could also be a co-working space which could generate extra income for projects.

  • Help businesses succeed – by being able to signpost new and existing businesses towards the advice and grant funding that is available to them.
  • Be a stronger voice for businesses – Our Aberdare will work with ABTA and be a strong, collective voice for our town’s businesses with resources to deliver projects and resolve issues that matter to you.
  • Lerage in extra funding through grant schemes – we are lucky to have the Pen Y Cymoedd fund in the area and will look to match fund projects by accessing the scheme.
ACCESSIBILITY & PARKING
  • Develop and promote parking offers – we will work with the Council to attract more footfall to the town.
  • Work on improving access – Aberdare is fortunate in having flat access from car parks into town. We will work with the council and other agencies on some of the disability access issues around the town centre. We will also lobby on the traffic problems affecting the town.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a BID?

A BID is a business-led and funded partnership, where businesses within a defined area invest money together to make the improvements they identify for their trading environment. The money generated is targeted only at the Our Aberdare programme.

What is a BID?

A BID is a business-led and funded partnership, where businesses within a defined area invest money together to make the improvements they identify for their trading environment. The money generated is targeted only at the Our Aberdare programme.

How is it funded?

Our Aberdare will be funded by a 1.5% levy on the total rateable value (RV) of all hereditaments, or business units, within the defined BID boundary with an RV of £5,000 or more. Businesses with a total RV below this threshold will be exempt but can make a voluntary contribution. The levy will be based on the RV as of 2nd January 2020 (the date of the notification of ballot).

How do I find out how much I am liable to pay?

You can calculate your levy by multiplying your RV by 1.5%. Please feel free contact Our Aberdare BID to talk through the business plan and discuss how much you will contribute. Please contact Angharad at info@ouraberdare.com.

How is the levy collected?

The BID levy will be collected on an annual basis and we have commissioned the borough council to collect the levy on our behalf as a separate bill. The levy will be fixed for five years based on the RV as of 2 nd January (the date of the notification of ballot). Our Aberdare will be clear and transparent about how it is spending the money. There will be regularly updated information about income and expenditure available to all members of the BID.

Is the council contributing?

Yes, the council has a number of properties in the town centre and will be levy payers, as would other public bodies.

How do you ensure services are in addition to those provided by the council?

To ensure that services will be additional to what is already delivered. Our Aberdare will have a baseline agreement with the borough council, which details the services they currently deliver. The baseline agreements will include public conveniences, street cleansing, highways maintenance, town centre management, car parks, CCTV and licensing including taxis, alcohol, street trading and late-night food. BID funds are ONLY for projects in addition to those delivered by the local councils and can only be spent to improve the area in which they are raised.

Who runs Our Aberdare?

Our Aberdare is run by the private sector – by a board of directors who represent the businesses in Aberdare and by theme groups also drawn from local businesses, who will meet to oversee specific projects in the programme’s four main strands. There will be lots of opportunities for businesses to get involved.