Since the Barrow Business Improvement District was set up in September 2016, the team have been working to promote and regenerate the town, and this year is set to be bigger and better than ever.

In 2019 Barrow BID are at the forefront of producing a calendar of events in Barrow’s high street.

The successful Car & Bike Show has undergone a rebrand to become the Festival of Transport and will be bigger previous years, attracting more vehicles and attractions to the town on Saturday July 20.

The Soapbox Challenge event will combine the areas’ engineering excellence with a community focus to create an event that Barrow can call its own.

The event will see soapbox carts use gravity to race down Barrow’s high street and post the fastest time of the day.

Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards will start the event by setting the first time down the course on June 29.

As well as these two high profile summer events, Barrow BID will be supporting groups who would like to put on an event in the town centre, starting with the, Look Out Here We Come event this Saturday from 10am on Portland Walk, which will bring music, dance and entertainment to Barrow’s high street.

In addition to the events, Barrow BID is aiming to diversify what the town centre has to offer.

They are working with local councils to enhance parking and have identified streets within the town which require upgrades to enhance traffic flow and support public transport into the heart of the town.

They are working on a programme of improving pedestrian and promotional signage for businesses located off the main high street.

They are also hoping to utilise the empty high-street units for leisure, professional services, offices, bars, restaurants and accommodation, as an alternative to retail shops which are increasingly shifting to online sales.

Barrow BID aim to improve shop fronts by offering a Business Premises Improvement Grant, working with the local council to develop the outside market area and create a space local people will be able to use.

Colin Garnett, Barrow BID Manager, said: ""Barrow BID are committed to the regeneration and promotion of Barrow town centre and we will continue to deliver projects, initiatives and events in the town to engage with local people and visitors to increase footfall and create a better and brighter town centre which will be loved by the local people."