About Us
Our mission is to make Walton a welcoming and vibrant place for businesses, visitors and residents alike.
Working within a defined boundary area, Walton BID is a not-for-profit organisation where businesses come together in partnership to fund projects, services and initiatives to support local business and enhance the town centre for mutual commercial success.
9
Streets
238
Businesses in the BID area
£700K+
Invested over the BID Lifetime
Our Work Falls Under 4 Main Themes
Marketing, Promotion & Events
Championing Walton-on-Thames and all it has to offer.
Safe, Welcoming & Accessible
Ensuring the town is easy to navigate and safe to all visitors.
Clean & Green
Making Walton a clean and vibrant town for all to enjoy.
Backing Business
What is a BID?
A Business Improvement District (BID), is a not-for-profit organisation where businesses come together to improve the trading environment of a defined area for mutual commercial success.
Funded by businesses, for the benefit of those businesses, a BID enables a coordinated investment into the area and delivers projects and services which are in addition to those already provided by the Council.
BIDs are formed when businesses in the BID area vote on a business plan which is tailored to respond to the needs of the businesses following consultation. A formal ballot is open for 28 days and every business is given the opportunity to vote via ballot paper.
Following a successful ballot, a BID is created for a maximum 5-year term to deliver the projects and initiatives as set out in the Business Plan. During the term, all businesses defined within the business plan will be required to pay the mandatory BID levy, irrespective of whether they cast a vote in the ballot or how they voted.
BIDs were first established in Canada and the US, and now exist across the world. There are over 300 BIDs now operating in the UK, including successful local BIDs in Kingston-upon-Thames, Guildford, Wimbledon and Camberley
In 2020, businesses of Walton town centre were presented with a Business Plan that had been created following a long period of consultation. Businesses voted in favour to see this plan realised and as such, Walton BID was set up in March 2021.
Business premises with a rateable value of £5,000 or above pay 1.5%* of their rateable value into Walton BID through an annual levy, with funds amounting to just over £130,000 per year. The BID then also secures additional funding from grants. These funds are allocated to projects and services which support the businesses collectively within the defined boundary.
*Businesses located within The Heart Shopping Centre pay 1.2% of their rateable value, the discount acknowledging the management charge they pay to the centre management.
The BID Board
Ned Clarke
Board Chairman
The Walton Village
Martin Bass
Board Member
The George Inn
Andy Davies
Board Member
James Neave Estate Agents
Joanna Gordon
Stakeholder Member
WoTTA
Laura Keen
Board Member
McDonalds
Natalie Leyland
Board Member
The Crafty Pots Café
Jonathan McDunphy
Stakeholder Member
The Heart
Upin Nathwani
Board Member
Barclays
Dave Sykes
Board Member
Bigmore Associates
Louise Tait
Board Member
The Cecil Hepworth Playhouse
Cllr Ashley Tilling
Public Sector Member
Elmbridge Borough Council
Who is your BID Manager?
Tracey Palmer has been the Walton BID Manager since 25 April 2022. A local resident since 1998, Tracey has seen first-hand the changes to the town and the challenges it faces.
With over 30 years Event Management, Marketing, PR/Communications and Project Management experience, Tracey brings her expertise, passion and drive for success to the role of BID Manager, delivering the original business plan goals.
As the PR and Marketing Director of WoTTA (Walton-on-Thames Trading (Town) Alliance) from 2016 – 2020 Tracey was instrumental in working with Elmbridge Borough Council and BID Consultants to develop the BID Business Plan and was the liaison with businesses ahead of the vote in March 2020.
Tracey is always available to meet with any BID Business and is regularly seen in the town centre catching up with business owners/managers and hearing their views, concerns, and successes.
Keep Up To Date
Walton BID regularly sends a e-news updates. If you are not yet receiving these please email: hello@waltonbid.co.uk to give consent to be added to the database.
Please invite colleagues to sign up for BID e-news.
Marketing, Promotion & Events
Through a series of tactical and seasonal marketing campaigns, we will promote the town of Walton-on-Thames and all it has to offer, including:
- Destination and seasonal marketing campaigns to encourage footfall,
- A new brand, Love Walton that will promote the town centre and BID businesses through a dedicated website and social media,
- Sector campaigns to shine a spotlight on the town’s independent businesses, and
- A programme of events for Walton that will help profile the town, drive footfall and provide promotional opportunities for the BID businesses.
Safe, Welcoming & Accessible
We will work collaboratively with businesses and local partners to ensure the town is easy to navigate and feels safe to all its visitors, including:
- Working with Elmbridge Borough Council and the Police to tackle street-level problems and anti-social behaviour,
- Undertake a review of wayfinding and lighting to ensure all areas of the town are easy to navigate, well-lit and feel safe and welcoming, and
- Explore opportunities to improve the parking experience for shoppers, employees and visitors.
Clean & Green
We want to make Walton an attractive, vibrant and enjoyable place for people to shop, eat and relax. We will:
- Work with partners to ensure that cleansing and maintenance standards are monitored and continue to improve,
- Explore opportunities to add more street dressing, colour and festive lighting
- Work with partners to remove, and unnecessary street furniture, decluttering the public spaces and improving the public realm.
Backing Business
Rooted in everything we do is the importance of helping the businesses of Walton-on-Thames town centre flourish. We will:
- Provide cost-saving opportunities through joint procurement initiatives,
- Act as a collective voice for the businesses of the town, ensuring their views are heard and represented, and
- Be a central source of information for businesses, linking you with the right people or organisations that can assist.
Business Rates Revaluation 26
Official BID Declaration 2026-31
Business Plan 2026-31
Annual General Meeting – June 2025
AGM FY24-25 Presentation Slides
BID Levy FY 25-26 Leaflet
Overview of the 25-26 BID Activities
Achievements 2021-2025
February 2025
Annual General Meeting – June 2024
AGM FY23-24 Presentation Slides
BID Levy FY 24-25 Leaflet
Overview of the 24-25 BID Activities
Annual General Meeting – June 2023
AGM FY22-23 Presentation Slides
Bid Levy FY 23-24 Leaflet
Overview of the 23-24 BID Activities
Annual General Meeting – June 2022
First Member Meeting Presentation
Bid Levy FY 22-23 Leaflet
Overview of the 22-23 BID Activities
Official BID Declaration
Walton Businesses back the BID!
Full Business Plan
Vote between 13 Feb – 12 Mar 2020