Wight BID (Isle of Wight Business Improvement District) is not fit for purpose and an unnecessary tax on the businesses of our island. It's had 10 years to prove itself as the great investment they promised us, but it has failed demonstrate this so not worth throwing good money after bad.

We had hoped for better things from a refreshed Board of Directors and a new proposed business plan for BID 3, but unfortunately they’ve not delivered this.

The next Wight BID ballot is 1 October 2026, so if you, like so many other businesses don't want to pay the BID tax, this is our opportunity to end it by voting it out.

In the last ballot 255 businesses voted no, so you are definitely not alone and we can do it this time. If you share this vision, join the growing number of businesses who want to get rid of the BID tax.

Keep upto date on the NO Wight BID Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nowightbid

Contact the NO Wight BID campaign: nowightbid@gmail.com.

10 REASONS TO VOTE NO TO WIGHT BID 3

Visit Isle of Wight are understandably making the case for businesses to vote YES. But when businesses are being asked to commit to another five years of compulsory levy, we think voters deserve to hear the other side of the argument too.

So before you cast your vote, here are 10 reasons to consider voting NO to this particular Wight BID 3 proposal:

1. WIGHT BID IS GETTING GREEDY.

BID 3 proposes to collect nearly £5.6 million in compulsory levy, around 90% more levy income than under the current five-year plan.

2. SOME BUSINESSES ARE BEING HAMMERED.

Some sectors face levy rates of 5% or 6% of rateable value, compared with the current standard rate of 1.75%.

3. BUSINESSES ARE BEING ASKED TO PICK UP MORE OF THE BILL.

Projected other/non-levy income falls from around £1.738 million to just £531,000, leaving BID 3 much more dependent on compulsory business funding.

4. THE LEVY STILL ISN'T FAIR.

General retail and major supermarkets remain outside the levy and pay nothing, while selected businesses are being asked to contribute substantially more.

5. BUSINESSES WEREN'T ASKED THE QUESTIONS THAT REALLY MATTER.

The main online consultation survey did not ask businesses whether they supported the eventual 5% and 6% levy rates, or how the financial burden should be divided between different sectors.

6. EVEN THE COUNCIL HAD AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS.

The Isle of Wight Council representative voted against the proposed levy structure and asked for affordability concerns to be formally recorded.

7. £5.6 MILLION DEMANDS PROOF, NOT PROMISES.

For nearly £5.6 million of compulsory business money, we believe businesses should be shown much clearer measurable economic returns, meaningful KPIs and evidence of value for every £1 they are required to pay.

8. IT COSTS A FORTUNE JUST TO COLLECT IT.

Around £182,500 over five years could be spent simply paying the Council to administer, bill and collect the compulsory levy.

9. “NO PLAN B” ISN'T A REASON TO VOTE YES.

A NO vote is not a vote against tourism: most English destination partnerships operate without substantial reliance on a compulsory tourism BID, and there are other ways of creating a broader and fairer funding model.

10. 38% OF OUR ECONOMY DESERVES BETTER THAN THIS.

If tourism represents around 38% of the Island economy, its future deserves strong Council leadership and a broader funding strategy — not another five years in which around 1,380 selected hereditaments carry so much of the financial burden.

DON'T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT — READ THE DETAIL.

We've produced a downloadable “10 Reasons to Vote NO to Wight BID 3” brochure setting out the facts, figures and more detailed evidence behind each of these points.

Download it here: https://tinyurl.com/nowightbid

Read it. Read the BID 3 Business Plan. Consider both sides. Then make up your own mind.

YOUR BUSINESS. YOUR MONEY. YOUR VOTE.

VOTE NO TO WIGHT BID 3.