Last updated at 22:05, Thursday, 04 March 2010

THERE'S big plans for BARROW town centre this Christmas and throughout 2010.
GRAHAM DIXON reports

BARROW borough council is revving up for a bumper Christmas of festivities in the town centre.

But council officers also intend keeping the feel-good factor bubbling all year round.

The news that the Christmas lights are to be switched on by ‘Hairy Biker’ Dave Myers follows closely on the heels of a raft of measures designed to help traders.

Barrow council town centre and festivals manager Ann Taylforth is optimistic that an expanded programme of activities and entertainment will help boost the number of Christmas shoppers. She states: “The free dry ice rink will be here for three weeks rather than the one day of last year.

“It can accommodate up to 25 skaters at a time and will be available eight hours a day including Sundays.

“Local schools are to be given priority reservations during normal school hours.”

The free ice rink will be open on November 21 and run until December 13.

The lights will also be turned on by Barrow’s genial Hairy Biker Dave Myers – and possibly TV partner Si King – on November 21 as the climax to a day of events supported by the Furness Multicultural Forum’s Winter Festival.

Mrs Taylforth says there will be a lantern parade, Bollywood Band and Christmas music from Denis Horan. During the day, Forum 28 will host the Winter Festival with performances and workshops from Bollywood Brass Band, tango, salsa and Latin dance, Polish dancers and Makendoo mask making.

There will also be henna tattooing, storytelling, film shows, A590 Theatre Group, local performers, children's fun fair rides on Dalton Road and entertainment from Jukalo and Joel Dickinson.

Mrs Taylforth points out that from the last Saturday in November and, every Saturday up until Christmas, there will be street entertainment in the Town Centre and carols with the Salvation Army.

Street entertainers include The Carol Singing Christmas Crackers, Holly and Ivy Enchanted Christmas Trees and DJ Booths Christmas Special.

Every Sunday from November 29 until Christmas there will be entertainers singing carols and Christmas songs in the town centre.

Local schools are being encouraged to entertain shoppers in the indoor market and should ring either Ann Taylforth on 876389 or Joyce Ames, Markets Manager on 876555.

The pre-Christmas spectacular is all part of a wider campaign with the council recently allocating £30,000 of its own money and receiving £52,000 from the government to improve the main retail area. Barrow council chief executive Tom Campbell says there is a real determination to smarten up the town centre.

He said: “Senior Barrow councillors in consultation with representatives of local traders have agreed an initial plan of action to support retailing in the town centre and help promote a successful Christmas season.”

One of the initiatives is that the council will give a ‘golden hello’ payment of £1,000 to any independent business setting up in empty property in Dalton Road or Portland Walk.

An added bonus is that Furness Enterprise has at the same time launched a £100,000 marketing programme aimed at boosting independent retail businesses in the town centre during the recession.

The good will and intentions are all in place for the year ahead, which promises to be a great one for Barrow.

First published at 13:09, Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk