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Colne votes yes to renew Colne BID
Published: Friday, 14th July 2023
Colne businesses have been voting on whether the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) should remain in place and they’ve voted yes!
The ballot took place on Friday 30 June and saw a majority of businesses in the boundary area voting to renew Colne BID for another five years.
This means they can continue to raise their own funds further to strengthen the town’s economy by establishing it as a great place to shop, socialise and do business.
The number of votes cast in favour of a BID was 79 or 80% of votes and the total number of votes cast in the ballot was 99.
Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “This is fantastic news!
“The positive outcome shows the impact the BID has had in supporting the business economy, particularly in these difficult times.
“Colne is a thriving town and renewing the BID will continue to make the most of its potential, building on its strong customer loyalty and specialist shops and services.
“Over the past five years the BID has helped to put Colne on the map as a place to eat, shop, play and do business.”
Events have attracted thousands of people to the town including Colne Light Festival, Colne Food and Drink Festival, Colne Super Soapbox Challenge and festive fun and activity in the lead up to Christmas.
Jane Turner, Chair of Colne BID, said: “I’m a Colne business owner and I’m delighted that businesses voted to renew the BID.
“It means that we can come together to get behind the town and really make a difference where it matters.”
Colne BID initiatives include:
- 35 approved and funded Fresh Lick of Paint Grants to freshen up shop fronts on the high street
- working with estate agents and landlords to keep empty units low
- litter picks and creation of the annual The Big Colne Clean Up, encouraging shops to tidy and clean outside of their shops
- wrapping two eyesore, empty buildings in Colne to equally promote the town as a gateway site and cover decaying buildings
- £10,000 per year to Colne Youth Action Group to support the charity in tackling Anti-Social Behaviour
- collaborating with the police to create a Business Crime Group.
Colne has recently received £6.5m Levelling Up funding which is creating a new Heritage Quarter. This will see The Muni Theatre, Pendle Hippodrome and The Little Theatre being upgraded.
Colne Market Hall is being transformed creating improved space for traders and shoppers and 11 new residential flats above.
Visit wwww.colnebid.co.uk for more information about Colne Bid.
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