Councillor Angus MacDonald and Mark MacLean from the Fort William Business Improvement District (BID) steering group team were guests at the recent Lochaber Rotary business lunch.
The aim of a BID is to work collectively with local businesses to invest in community enhancement and improvement projects, which are additional to those delivered by the statutory authorities.
There are already 33 established BIDs in Scotland - including Oban - and there is now a locally-inspired movement to achieve BID status for the town of Fort William.
Councillor MacDonald explained that if the BID project is successful, it will be a locally-led and business-funded body, with the aim to positively promote and implement improvement of, among other things, the town centre.
He said: “There is so much we could do to improve our town.
“Redeveloping the underpass, conserving historic buildings, improving the rear of the buildings facing the loch, sourcing tenants for vacant shops, introducing public art, improving our shorefront, encouraging more use of the High Street entertainment space for events and much more.”
President Flora McKee thanked Councillor MacDonald for his exhilarating talk and past-president John Hutchison said: “This is a clear call on all that the town needs to do. We wish you every success in this important project.”
Members responded with warm applause.
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