A bid to bring more people to St Albans could lead to more than £500,000 being invested in the city.

St Albans City Centre Partnership launched a campaign to introduce a business improvement district on Wednesday, January 20.

Around 500 businesses operate in the designated area that includes St Peter’s Street, the High Street, Chequer Street and Holywell Hill. It also includes the two shopping centres, The Maltings and Christopher Place.

If it goes ahead, businesses will pay a levy of 1.8 per cent of their rateable value and this would raise £500,000. This would then be used to enhance the appearance of the city centre, creating more markets and festivals and better marketing to promote the city.

Councillor Beric Read, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Localism for St Albans City and District Council, said: “This is a very exciting proposal for the City.

“There are around 200 BIDs in the UK including ones in Luton, Hitchen and Bedford with Watford having recently voted for one. We don’t want businesses in St Albans to miss out on this opportunity.

“A BID has the potential to further improve the City Centre and give a strong voice to local businesses.

“What the BID must do, though, is provide services that are in addition to what the Council is already offering businesses. We must avoid any duplication.”

Businesses will vote at a ballot in the autumn to decide if the scheme goes ahead.