MORE than 100 Winchester city centre businesses are in arrears on paying their Business Improvement District (BID) levy, it has emerged.

According to city council figures, 123 traders have not yet paid, leaving the BID around £85,000 short of its £485,000 total.

Prof Chris Turner, BID executive director, said the number was higher than usual but was due to large numbers of businesses closing.

“It's slightly higher than what we would expect but not by much,” he said.

“It's about 12 per cent of our membership, but we will find out the final amount of non-payers in September and we expect it to be much less, perhaps around 20.

“We have already had to write off money from businesses that have gone like Clinton Cards, JJB Sports, Blacks and Jessops, as they are bills that cannot be paid.”

He added the BID had reserves to cover any funds lost from defunct businesses.

The levy is calculated on a business's rateable value, and Prof Turner said Winchester's major chains - which usually pay the largest sums - have paid up.

He said: “Most of these businesses still to pay are the small players who owe the average levy of around £220. The national chains tend to pay very early on.”

But some independent traders have raised concerns about the performance of the BID and value for money.

Cat Brandwood, director of Toscanaccio, in Parchment Street, said: “We have paid the levy but there have been some issues relating to the BID not getting our concerns back to the council to get things sorted.

“For example, look at the fire at Phase 8. Businesses in Parchment Street have been complaining for years about the external bins as fire hazards, and BID said it was lobbying the council but did not get anywhere.

“I had to go to the council directly about it on behalf of businesses because we were fed up of nothing happening. Changes need to be made to support independent businesses.”

Simon Scantlebury, who runs World of Beads, off Parchment Street, added: “I paid my levy because I don't want to go to court, but I don't think the BID has any idea what it's doing.

“The biggest problem at the moment is the market. People get absorbed with the market and do not go down the back streets, which is a massive problem. The BID does little to help direct people to the back streets.”

A city council spokesman said a formal reminder to pay the levy would be issued, but he expected the final number of non-payers to reduce dramatically.

He said: “Based on past experience, only a very small number will remain outstanding after this stage.

“It is important that we follow up with all the businesses that benefit from the BID in order to be fair to those that pay the levy willingly and on time.

“Those who do not pay would ultimately receive a bailiff's letter and be taken to court later in the summer.”