A CAMPAIGN to persuade Halesowen businesses to support plans to make the town a Business Improvement District is in jeopardy after councillors approved only a third of a grant application.

Halesowen Chamber of Trade applied to the Halesowen North and South Community Forum for £6,000, but came away with just £2,000.

Forum chairman Councillor Karen Shakespeare described the campaign as “speculative” fearing it could fail and to give £6,000 was too a big a risk.

Cllr David Vickers agreed at Tuesday’s forum meeting, saying it was too much money when other groups needed funding, despite more than £11,000 being available from the new empty shops grant and high street innovation funding.

Halesowen North and South councillors thought the chamber should also apply to the Belle Vale, Hayley Green and Cradley South Community Forum for funds.

Chamber chairman Wayne Edwards said he was “very disappointed” that the councillors could not see the long term benefits.

Many towns, including Solihull, have become Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) enabling an additional small percentage to be levied on the business rates for the exclusive use of the town centre.

Mr Edwards said the cash, which can amount to around £100,000 a year, could be used to promote towns, run events, fund CCTV and general improvements above and beyond what cash-starved councils can provide.

Businesses have to vote on the proposal, hence the need for a funded campaign to pay for consultants to draw up the bid, marketing and promotion.

Mr Edwards said the chamber approached the Halesowen North and South Community Forum because its area covers the town centre but agreed to apply to the other forum because the whole town would benefit from becoming a BID.

He said: “I don’t know at this stage how much we will apply to them for but £6,000 was a conservative estimate.

“If you compare the number of people who will benefit from the other small grants approved tonight, our application would benefit far more people.”