PLANS for a business-led initiative to boost Ulverston have won the backing of Cumbria County Council (CCC) and South Lakeland District Council (SLDC).

CCC’s South Lakeland Local Committee and SLDC’s Cabinet both agreed to vote for a Business Improvement District (BID) when the town’s business rate payers are balloted on the proposal next month.

Under the scheme, rate-paying businesses in Ulverston would pay an annual levy, potentially generating half a million pounds in the next five years to finance new initiatives and projects promoting and supporting the town.

Both local authorities own a number of properties in Ulverston and are therefore eligible to vote in the BID postal ballot.

Cllr Nick Cotton, Chair of CCC’s South Lakeland Local Committee, said: “We’ve seen the BID steering group’s exciting plans for Ulverston and the county council is delighted to offer our support.

“We wish them well in their efforts to help the town flourish in the future.”

Cllr Graham Vincent, SLDC’s Health and Wellbeing Portfolio Holder, voiced his support for the proposal, saying, “It’s good to see businesses taking a bit of control about what happens in their area.”

Chris Nelson, Chair of the Ulverston BID steering group, said: “Having the support of these two local authorities is an important step for us.

“Ulverston is unique because most of the BIDs in the UK so far have been focused on a town centre or a trading estate.

“However this is a whole town BID, including major employers like GlaxoSmithKline, Forge Europa and Tritech, who have all backed the idea.”

The BID postal ballot runs from February 26 to March 26, when around 450 businesses will decide whether it goes ahead or not.

Mr Nelson went on to say: “Our town has a huge opportunity to share in a new era of prosperity driven by investment in the area and the continued expansion, enterprise and vision of our leading companies.”

“The BID proposal document will shortly be arriving with stakeholders and we would urge them all – large and small businesses – to give it their wholehearted support so that together we can forge a brighter future for Ulverston.”