Alexandria set for Business Improvement District vote

THE WEST Dunbartonshire town of Alexandria could soon see a major transformation if local businesses vote to designate the area as a Business Improvement District (BID).

This initiative, spearheaded by Sian Wilkie, Director of Wilkie’s Eyecare on Main Street, aims to revitalise the town’s commercial centre.

It is also hoped to harness the town’s potential as a gateway for visitors to the nearby Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

If approved in a vote on November 14, the BID could breathe new life into a town with a storied 200-year history marked by economic highs and lows.

A BID, which operates through a compulsory levy starting at £360 annually for smaller businesses, can only proceed with majority support in a vote.

Once established, it lasts for up to five years and is managed by participating businesses.

The plan would focus on re-branding the town centre, improving infrastructure, and promoting Alexandria as a destination for both residents and tourists.

Wilkie, who also operates practices in Dumbarton and Bearsden, has championed the project, highlighting its potential to reinvigorate local commerce.

She said: “Alexandria has a unique Main Street with lots of independent firms, but it has seen a real fall-off in recent years.

“We must make sure that more enterprises are not lost.

“The BID will allow firms here to take ownership of their own future and protect jobs for the greater good of the West Dunbartonshire community.”

The initiative seeks to overcome challenges stemming from reduced public investment and shifting consumer habits.

By pooling resources, local businesses could enhance Alexandria’s appeal through new signage, marketing support, and business training

The aim is to redirect some of the significant tourist traffic from the National Park.

Alexandria, historically an industrial hub with ties to innovation—such as its early 1900s Argyll Motor Works, which trained television pioneer John Logie Baird—seeks to reclaim some of that entrepreneurial spirit.

Wilkie emphasised: “People here have understandably become a bit jaded, but there is a lot of positivity about the BID.

“With councils facing cuts, it’s essential for businesses to have their say and influence their own destiny.

“We’ve seen positive examples in other towns, and there’s a lot we can accomplish together.”

She noted that the project is designed to be equitable, with smaller businesses paying lower fees and larger entities contributing more.

She added: “First, we need to address the current state of the town and then make sure everyone knows about our improvements.”

Local support has been building, with existing trade groups and examples from similar projects in Paisley and Milngavie offering encouraging blueprints.

The November 14 vote will determine if Alexandria can proceed with this ambitious plan to turn its fortunes around.