Aberdare BID: Is It Delivering Value for Money?

As the current term of the Aberdare Business Improvement District (BID) nears its end in March 2025, Will local traders be questioning whether the initiative has provided value for money? The Aberdare BID was established in April 2020, and a new ballot will be required in early 2025 for the BID to continue for another five-year term.

Growing Concerns About Decline

Despite the BID’s promise to support local businesses and improve the town’s prospects, Aberdare continues to grapple with visible decline. Traders and residents have raised concerns about the dilapidated state of buildings and shop fronts in a town that holds conservation status. This neglect, they argue, undermines the BID’s mission to revitalize Aberdare.

Inquiries to the council by AberdareOnline about the condition of neglected buildings revealed that no Section 215 Notices—legal orders compelling property owners to clean up their premises—have been issued. The council responded:

“The owners of all the properties you have listed have engaged in ongoing dialogue with Council officers, and in some cases, formal action has been taken using the appropriate legislation.”

This lack of enforcement leaves many traders feeling unsupported, particularly when compared to the significant investments seen in the Town of Pontypridd.

Accountability and Transparency

Questions about the effectiveness and transparency of the BID have also been raised. AberdareOnline contacted Our Aberdare—the organization responsible for the BID—on multiple occasions to request updates and answers to a list of questions provided to Our Aberdare. Despite a meeting in June 2024 and follow-ups in October, no positive response was received, and the minutes from BID meetings are no longer being published after June 2024.

Some critics argue that the BID primarily serves as a way to fund projects that the council might otherwise be responsible for, leaving traders to shoulder costs without seeing meaningful benefits.

Empty Shops and Uncertain Futures

The closure of major shops since the BID began in 2020 has further fuelled scepticism. Traders surely question how effective the BID has been in attracting new businesses or supporting existing ones. With the next BID ballot approaching, many ask whether the initiative is worth the continued financial contribution, especially in light of ongoing economic challenges.

Looking Ahead

The next few months will be critical for the Aberdare BID. Traders and stakeholders must evaluate whether the initiative has delivered on its promises and decide if it should continue beyond 2025. As Aberdare grapples with its future, the question remains: is the BID truly a benefit to the town, or is it time for a new approach?

Mandatory BID contributions: Businesses are required to contribute to the Our Aberdare Business Improvement District (BID) Ltd. fund, adding to their financial burden for traders.

In a Business Improvement District (BID), businesses within a defined area typically pay a mandatory levy or additional business rate to fund local improvements and initiatives. For the Aberdare Business Improvement District, this would mean:

Businesses located within the designated BID area are required to pay the BID levy.
The levy is usually calculated based on the rateable value of the business premises. This means larger businesses with higher-value properties will pay more than smaller businesses.
The payment is mandatory for all eligible businesses within the BID boundary, regardless of whether they initially supported the BID proposal or not.
The funds collected are then used to implement projects and services that aim to improve the local business environment, such as: