BUSINESS owners in York are being invited to the pub to discuss new plans to improve the city centre.

The event at The Gillygate, in Gillygate, will give people a chance to learn more about the plans to set up a Business Improvement District in York.

Guests will be able to learn more about what BID is, how it works, how it could benefit York and what it would mean for local businesses.

The BID idea aims to raise around £870,000 a year by imposing a levy on businesses, worth one per cent of their rateable value. The move needs the support of city centre businesses and more than 1,000 are being consulted.

The meeting at The Gillygate is at 6pm on Tuesday, June 16.

Steve Hughes, York BID Project manager, will be there to chat and answer questions.

He said: "We have been consulting extensively over the last few weeks and there has been overwhelming support for the idea. BIDS are now operating successfully all over the UK and making a real difference to the economic vitality of town and city centres.

"Of course there is a cost to the businesses, but by working together a BID in York can make a great city centre even better and give us about £870,000 a year to pay for improvements that businesses can decide on.”