A CO-ORDINATOR has been appointed to oversee the development of an Ulverston Business Improvement District (BID).

Chris Kolek, who successfully managed the BID processes for Penrith and Kendal, will engage with local businesses and take forward the proposal which will be put to a ballot early in 2015.

He has agreed to work with the BID steering group after a competitive tendering and interview process.

Mr Kolek, who also carried out the feasibility study on setting up an Ulverston BID, said: “I am looking forward to working with local businesses and the steering group. When I undertook the feasibility study there was a genuine enthusiasm for the idea, and the real benefits it could bring to the town.”

The statutory process to set up the BID will use up to £20,000 funding from Ulverston Town Council, Ulverston Community Partnership, South Lakeland District Council, and Cumbria County Council to progress the BID initiative over the next year.

Businesses across Ulverston will vote on whether they want the BID to go ahead. If the vote is positive, more than £70,000 could be raised each year for five years through a one per cent levy on business ratepayers. Chris Nelson from Ulverston Business Alliance, who is chairman of the BID steering group, said: “We are delighted to have Chris on board to give us the benefit of his experience and expertise. The BID process will be controlled by representatives of the local businesses which will provide the funding. “If it is successful, it is the town’s business community which will decide how best to spend those funds.” The steering group members are all unpaid volunteers and include representatives from large companies, traders, licensed premises, tourism and Ulverston Town Council.