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Bristol Pound can be used to pay council tax

Local currency can now be used to pay council tax Credit: Bristol Pound

Bristol residents can now use the Bristol Pound to make council tax payments.

This means Bristol is the first UK city where people can pay council tax in a local currency.

Accounts can be opened online at bristolpound.org/signup or in person at BCU’s offices, Stokes Croft.

Local currency can now be used to pay council tax Credit: Bristol Pound

For the first time the people of Bristol have a clear and direct way of giving an imperative to the city council to support local businesses.

In true Bristol fashion, we are the first UK city where people can pay council tax in a local currency.

If people take it on and start doing it, the whole scheme will scale up significantly.

This would have a real effect on the economy, supporting locally owned businesses and the communities they are part of.

Local businesses have been able to pay their business rates and Business Improvement District (BID) Levy in £Bs since the scheme launched in September 2012.

£B119,502 Bristol Pounds were paid to the council in business rates in 2014.

Since September 2012 a total of £B680,000 Bristol Pounds has been issued, with £B460,000Bristol Pounds currently in circulation. About 800 locally-owned businesses accept the currency.

– Ciaran Mundy, £B Director