MOVES are being made to attract more tourists to Kendal.

Westmorland and Furness Council has thrown its weight behind an ‘invaluable’ scheme to help support businesses in Kendal.

Members of the cabinet voted to use the council’s voting allocation to support a new five-year plan for Kendal Business Improvement District (BID) at Barrow Town Hall on Wednesday (October 18).

A BID is a defined area where a levy is charged on business rate payers which is used to develop projects which will benefit businesses in the area.

Businesses that pay the levy can vote in the ballot which determines whether the scheme goes ahead.

The BID was initiated in April 2014 to develop projects and services which benefit and improve Kendal town centre, support local businesses and boost the local economy.

According to the council it has invested £1.2 million of funding into the local economy and local businesses, enabling a comprehensive marketing campaign, improvements to the appearance of the town centre, new car parking initiatives, group business initiatives and creating a business voice for the town.

The scheme will aim to encourage more tourists to visit Kendal.

Kendal BID business plan 2024-2029 states: “The BID has identified untapped tourism potential as an opportunity to attract more visitors to Kendal. To harness this potential, the BID implements marketing and promotional campaigns.

“By increasing visitor numbers and boosting the local economy, the BID supports tourism-related businesses and creates employment opportunities within the sector, contributing to overall economic growth.”

The BID area in Kendal will be increased from previous terms as according to the organisers there is a desire for a more inclusive BID which will be able to benefit businesses that were previously excluded.

The initiative will also seek to build more confidence in the local economy.

The plan adds: “The overall economic climate in Kendal BID area requires assistance to foster confidence and stimulate growth. The rise in business closures, high failure rates, and escalating costs contribute to an unstable economy.

“To address this, Kendal BID provides support, resources, and initiatives that promote economic stability and instil confidence within the local business community.”

Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, councillor Jonathan Brook (Kendal South, Lib Dems), said: “The work undertaken by the Kendal BID is invaluable to the town and its surrounding area, and I hope that everyone who is entitled to vote on this matter takes the time to show their support by voting yes; thus, securing the ongoing investment and improvement.

“Supporting the BID is in line with our council plan priorities and in particular it supports our ambition for confident, empowered, resilient communities.

“The Kendal BID provides a voice for town centre businesses and is an organisation that the council can, and will, work closely with to deliver shared objectives. The work of the BID will help to support Kendal as a local service centre to serve the needs of the community.”

 

 

The levy businesses will pay is based on one per cent of the properties most current rateable value.

Westmorland and Furness Council will use its voting allocation in favour of the new five-year-plan (2024-2029) in the ballot on November 29.