ipswich: Bosses of the town centre’s Business Improvement District (BID) initiative are today launching a campaign to secure a second five-year term for the project.

BID company Ipswich Central is now into its final year of delivering a �3.3million package of measures to promote and improve the town centre which began in April 2007.

BIDs are funded through a supplementary business rate which has to be approved by a ballot of the ratepayers affected every five years.

As a result, Ipswich Central is now seeking to enlist the support of businesses in the town centre for a “Yes” vote when it stages its second ballot next month.

Paul Clement, executive director of Ipswich Central, and Alistair Lang, chief executive of law firm Birketts and chairman of the Ipswich Central Renewal Committee, will be making a series of presentations today on plans for a second phase of BID initiatives, supported by Julie Grail, chief executive of national support body British BIDs.

The theme of the renewal campaign is “Lots Done, Lots to Do, Lots to Lose”.

Mr Lang said: “So much has been achieved by this BID, and often it is difficult to remember what life was like before it. Yet, there is still so much more to do. And what is particularly apparent, is just how much would be lost if it were no longer here.”

Mr Clement added: “The launch of our official business plan is a landmark step for our operation and the second stage of our BID. We will work with all partners to deliver a renewed and revitalised town centre.”

Voting on the BID extension will open on Friday, October 7 and run until 5pm on Thursday, Novermber 3