Camilla DelMaestro put a ‘no’ poster in her shop window

REBELS who fought a business levy in Hampstead are celebrating today (Friday) after an announcement that the scheme will be wound up.

Just weeks after the Hampstead Business Improvement District (BID) published its plan for a new term, managers changed tack and said it would be shut down. While BIDs are used in several areas of Camden to bring in money for measures that may improve trading conditions, the set-up in Hampstead had faced a challenge from refuseniks who said they could not see what they were getting for their money.

Jimmy McGrath, the landlord of King William IV, was taken to court by the council are refusing to pay the extra charge.

This year, the Hampstead BID needed to win a new ballot of businesses to keep going for another five years and the result of the vote was not a foregone conclusion.

‘Vote no’ posters had appeared in shop windows along Hampstead High Street, while magazine editor Sebastian Wocker helped lead a campaign of his opposition in his publication, the Hampstead Village Voice. He described the decision as “liberation day” for the businesses.

In a statement, the BID’s board said: “Hampstead Village BID was established via a democratic ballot of local businesses in 2016. Its first five year term comes to an end in July of this year and in accordance with legislation the BID executive team has undertaken a Perception Analysis process to gauge interest in the BID continuing for a further five year term.”

“The impact of the pandemic was reflected in the feedback received in the Perception Analysis, and following consultation with the business community, the Hampstead Village BID Board agreed now is not the right time for the BID to continue.

“It is felt that adding further overheads to local businesses struggling to recover from the global pandemic is not appropriate at the moment. Based on this decision the business community will not now be balloted and the BID will be wound up by the end of July 2021. Work will now commence to ensure this process is delivered smoothly and in line with the legislation.

 “The BID board, the initial management team, and since 2019 the Primera-led executive team, have all worked tirelessly to support the local business community. The feedback and engagement of businesses has helped steer the BID, and has ultimately informed this decision too.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the businesses of Hampstead Village for their support over the past five years and want all the best for the area moving forward.”