SHOPKEEPERS and business people are split over whether turning Chester city centre into a Business Improvement District (BID) would be good for trade.

The idea is to make the city a more attractive place against a backdrop of increased competition by funding extra policing, better street cleaning and a marketing campaign.

But the catch is that retailers within the BID area would have to pay for the improvements on top of their rates.

BID organisers must now persuade nearly 400 retailers and other businesses to back the BID in a ballot to be held in December.

Sue Haslam, who chairs the city centre management executive and Chester BID Steering Group, said: 'Initial feedback from the businesses we've been talking to has been extremely encouraging, particularly from the smaller, independent traders in the BID area who are the lifeblood of Chester's retail sector.

'The response we've received to date has led us to the decision to hold the ballot in December.'

* Included in the proposed BID zone are the Rows and road-level businesses in Eastgate Street, Northgate Street, St Werburgh Street, Watergate Street, Bridge Street, Godstall Lane and Music Hall Passage.