Ashby BID is up and running - and it launched its own website this week.

The BID - Business Improvement District - was introduced last year after local businesses voted for the scheme.

Now, Ashby BID has its own website HERE where you can follow its activities.

The BID has also produced its first newsletter in which is sets out what the people of Ashby can expect from now on.

It says: "The Board of Directors - drawn from businesses in the BID area who give their time voluntarily - and the team have been working behind the scenes to prepare the Ashby BID for launch and also putting the key projects in place.

"The Ashby BID will officially launch in July 2022 and over the next five years, the BID team will be working hard towards our key objectives:

• To promote Ashby as an attractive and vibrant market town with a wealth of shops, bars, eateries, salons, leisure facilities and other service providers

• To increase footfall, drive sales, encourage loyalty and welcome new investment and business into Ashby

• To promote Ashby's heritage, culture and events as an essential part of our community. We will continue to grow and enhance Ashby's existing events and also create and introduce exciting new ones.

• To make Ashby an aesthetically pleasing, safe and welcoming place to live, work and socialise

• To work alongside businesses, offering support to promote growth and investment. In order for the Ashby BID to succeed it needs your support, both in terms of how it is run and in ensuring that the projects we develop are the right ones and successful.

"The newsletter will set out a number of opportunities for you to get involved in ensuring more people come into town, there is greater spending and in helping to reduce your business costs.

"We hope you will come along with us on the journey to ensure that our town, which is great already in many ways, becomes better."

The BID has also announced who is on its board of directors. They are:

• Mo Aswat Chair, The Mosaic Partnership

• Sharon Keevins Vice Chair, Kangaroo UK

• Alison Smith The School of Sewing and Sew Wardrobe

• Barrie Walford NWLDC

• Fred Evans Sweet Memory Lane

• Helen Cormack Goose and The Dressing Room

• Kate Adcock-Zamani Zamanis

• Mandy McIntosh Fair2All

• Mark Mcintosh Mmacaron

• Melanie Mitchell Ashby de la Zouch Town Council

• Nicholas Rushton Dunkin Rushton Ltd

The Ashby BID staff will be made up of Ashby's Town Centre manager Stuart Benson and Emma Clark from Sew Wardrobe.

The newsletter adds: "Both of our BID managers are passionate about our wonderful town and have been advocates of Ashby for a number of years.

"Their role will be to deliver the projects set out in the business Plan.

"They will be working 18 hours a week each and will be your first point of contact."