Blackburn EDZ Update

During October the BID Team have continued our work to improve the general appearance of Furthergate, Whitebirk and Greenbank by addressing the problems caused by litter and fly-tipping.

• Emptying of the EDZs waste bins has been targeted to ensure full bins don’t contribute to street littering.
• Multiple fly tipping incidents have been reported to the council who have responded well by collecting the offending items and disposing of them correctly.
• One grot spot tackled in October is on Castle Street located on Furthgate. Two abandoned 1,100 wheelie bins, full and overflowing with waste had been left (see images below). The BID team have liaised with the bin rental company to arrange for their disposal and then cleared the area of any remnants of rubbish.
• During the last 4 week the team have removed more than 600kg of rubbish from across Furthergate, Greenbank and Whitebirk.
• Disposal of rubbish linked to drug taking activity has also been completed during the month with associated reporting to Blackburn Council and the Police.
• Regular enhanced cutting of green space has also taken place across Greenbank, Furthergate and Whitebirk during October.

November is Hedge Trimming and Cutting Back

• The Blackburn EDZ BID team will be setting to work on a significant programme of hedge cutting and tidying during November and into December.
• This will see bushes and hedges that have grown onto pavements and walkways cut back before the bird nesting seasons begin in Spring. 
• Much of this work will focus on Greenbank which is blessed with much of the greenery across the EDZ, however all locations will see improvements taking place.

Business Support from Blackburn with Darwen Council 

Blackburn with Darwen Council has a dedicated business team which offers support, advice and funding to companies looking to grow within the Borough.  The team proactively seek to engage with all businesses in the Borough to encourage investment and job creation.  The business team have been successful in supporting business growth and town centre regeneration through the Assistance to Industry funding programme, which provides grant assistance to companies investing and growing in the town.  

Contact Mark Nelson at Blackburn with Darwen Council  on 01254 666490 or email mark.nelson@blackburn.gov.uk. 

General information and advice is also available from  www.blackburn.gov.uk/Pages/Businesses.aspx

Business Support from Boost Lancashire

Boost Business Lancashire are currently providing training in 3 key areas –

• Personal Development – including chairing meetings, mentoring, coaching, building personal resilience and managing conflict.
• Leadership and Management Development – including performance management, managing change, employee engagement and developing teams.
• IT Training – including the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher.

Finding out more about these courses – Visit the Boost Lancashire website https://www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk, email skillslearninganddevelopment@lancashire.gov.uk or call 01772 538474.

Blackburn EDZ Enquiries.....

For ongoing support or for any enquiries regarding the BID or your business requirements in relation to the BID please contact the interim BID Co-ordinator Chris White on:
Email: info@blackburnedz.co.uk
Tel: 0333 1210393
Web: www.blackburnbidedz.co.uk