Businesses on the waterfront are being invited to a meeting this afternoon to discuss the prospect of becoming a business improvement district.

It would mean firms paying an extra levy for a greater say on how the area is run.

The waterfront partnership will finalise its proposals this month before a ballot on the issue - they say the money will pay for extra events, a night time manager and sprucing up the Barbican but some local publicans and businesses have argued that this should be paid for by the council anyway and that they don't believe they will get much for their money.

Chris Unwin is the landlord of a number of pubs including the Three Crowns and the Cider Press - he says they also disagree with the size of the area which would be included in the BID. He doesn't think money from businesses in the Millbay area for example, should be spent on the Barbican and vice versa.

The waterfront partnership have been unavailable for comment.

The meeting starts at 5:30pm at the Duke of Cornwall hotel.