Kingston’s town centre manager has said Surrey County Council (SCC) voting against the town’s improvement scheme would lack “intellectual integrity”.

Voting for Kingston First’s Bid2 opened on Friday, for business rate payers, and close on July 23.

The ballot has to meet two tests for another five year Bid to go ahead as of December 31.

Firstly, a majority must vote in favour and secondly, there must be a majority by rateable value of those voting, which is why Surrey’s vote from Penrhyn Road is so vital.

The council voted against the last Bid in 2004, because it wanted to protect smaller businesses. Its rateable value was so high, its no vote meant an additional £2.2m worth of votes was needed to counteract it.

Town centre manager Graham McNally said: “To vote no would lack all logic because they’ve made the decision to stay here in Kingston.

“When you go around local businesses in Kingston they are overwhelmingly supportive of the bid. For it then to get tied up in politics is inappropriate.

“What we’re trying to do is say ‘look, you decided to stay in Kingston because it is tremendous value for money. You made that decision in 2006 when the bid was running so you understand it’s part of the town’.”

An SCC spokesman said: “We did vote no last time, the reason being the council cannot see why Surrey County Council taxpayers should pay for improvements in another vicinity.

“The new cabinet will be asked to decide how they should vote this time around.”

The vote is expected on July 14.

Since the Bid began in January 2005, the team’s work has included graffiti and chewing gum removal, the establishment of three minicab booking offices to ensure safe travel home and the introduction of a new cardboard recycling scheme.

There has been a 40 per cent increase in bus use, two new car parks have been built and an increasing number of passengers use the Christmas park and ride scheme each year.

If the new Bid gets the go ahead, there are plans to extend the park and ride scheme, promote Kingston’s history to visitors and develop the riverside.

Mr McNally said: “It may be there’s a change of heart with the new executive and new leadership. This is a great opportunity for close partnerships to work together.”

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