2019 is set to be an exciting year for Barrow with a number of events planned for residents and shoppers in the town centre.

Barrow Business Improvement District (BID) have hosted various events in recent months, as well as launching numerous projects to benefit businesses and shoppers in the town.

Colin Garnettt, Barrow BID Manager spoke to The Mail about how he thought things have gone since he took on the role in July this year and plans for 2019.

Looking back at the last six month, he said: “When I took over as BID manager I wanted to hit the ground running.

“one of the first things we did was launch visitbarrow.org.uk.

“We’ve used this site to promote the town and will continue to do that.

“We launched the website off the back of the tour of Britain and this worked well.

“In 2019 we want to expand on this and continue to build a town brand by producing an annual leaflet covering major events and showing what is on offer in Barrow.”

Discussing a number of events Barrow BID have hosted this year, including the Barrow Street Football Festival, The school choir competition and a host of festive entertainment.

Mr Garnettt said: “We want to work with local businesses to put on events which are sustainable in the long term.

“Barrow lacks marque annual events and we’re hoping to create more of these in the new year.”

The first example of this is the Classic Car and Bike show which has undergone a rebrand for the new year and will return to Barrow in 2019 as the Festival of Transport.

Another exciting event is the Super Soapbox challenge.

Mr Garnettt said: “We want the soapbox challenge to be a signature annual event in Barrow.

“We’ve signed up to host for at least three years.”

Christmas 2019 will also be an important time for Barrow Bid.

Mr Garnettt said: “I want to make a real impact in Barrow over Christmas next year.

“It’s a chance to wow shoppers in the town centre.

“I want to make Barrow a special place to be for 2019.”