PROPOSALS to make Royston a Business Improvement District will be discussed at a meeting next Tuesday. The Royston First steering group is inviting all Royston businesses and stakeholders to attend the meeting at Royston Fire Station. Attendees will be ab

PROPOSALS to make Royston a Business Improvement District will be discussed at a meeting next Tuesday.

The Royston First steering group is inviting all Royston businesses and stakeholders to attend the meeting at Royston Fire Station.

Attendees will be able to take an early look at the groups prospectus.

A spokesman for Royston First said: "We think it very appropriate that we will be discussing community initiatives in the home of one of our most trusted public services.

"Also it will be an evening of firsts: Royston First; the first view of the prospectus; and the first use of the fire station for a meeting of this kind. We thank the station commander Sean Comerford for his invitation."

The meeting is likely to discuss the proposals which are set to be completed in the next five years. These will include a community cinema, and illustrations of this project will be on show for guests.

Experts such as Chris Hollins, vice-chairman of Action for Market Towns, and one of the advisors to the Government on Business Improvement District legislation, will be on hand to answer questions.

Chf Insp Geoff Camp, the senior police officer for North Hertfordshire, also plans to attend.

The spokesman added: "Even though our proposals stemmed from extensive research in the town, we expect that the imminent vote will focus business owners' minds on the details of the Business Improvement District.

"We will do our collective best to answer all questions on the night," he said.

The Royston First scheme could see £1million injected into various business projects in Royston over the next five years. The money would be raised by businesses paying an extra two per cent above the current business rates.

North Herts district council has given the green light to the scheme, and the business community must now decide whether to adopt it. Ballot papers will be issued next month, and voting will take place between November 3 and December 1.

The meeting takes place at Royston fire station, in Baldock Road, on Tuesday, October 21, at 6.30pm. For more information, contact Royston First on 01763 878242.