AN initiative designed to boost trade in Darlington has been given the seal of approval by members of the the borough council’s cabinet.

The town’s Business Improvement District company, Distinct Darlington, is up for renewal next month and senior members of Darlington Borough Council has urged businesses in the town to get behind the scheme.

Distinct Darlington has announced its five-year plan ahead of the selection in a bid to garner support.

On Tuesday night, Councillor Nick Wallis, the cabinet member for leisure and local environment, gave the organisation his seal of approval during a cabinet meeting.

Cllr Heather Scott, the leader of the Conservative Group, added her support to the continuation of the BID in the town.

A number of consultations have taken place across Darlington with both face-to-face meetings with retailers, postal and on-line surveys to discover their priorities for the future.

And those findings have formed the basis of the BID’s new business plan, which will go to vote amongst the town’s businesses on Thursday, February 9.

Alex Hirst, manager at Distinct Darlington said: “We have done a huge amount of research so if the renewal procedure is successful, we know we are targeting exactly what the businesses in the BID area are looking for to make Darlington a vibrant and bustling town centre.

“Over the past years we’ve made some massive achievements, such as the Distinctly Delicious food festival, generating over £300,000 in additional income from Our Little Book of Offers initiative and successfully running a fashion show and classic car show as well as many other footfall-driving events.

“Our five year plan will consolidate this success, with some really exciting schemes.”

Among the projects lined up for the future are festivals and events and various rewards and incentives schemes to persuade shoppers to visit the town centre.

Boosting the evening economy and running schemes such as the highly successful Alive After Five promotion delivered by Newcastle’s BID, and a Restaurant Week are also high on the agenda.

Speaking about work already delivered in the town, she said: “Along with the financial benefits we’ve brought to businesses and the town centre, we have introduced a number of measures to make Darlington a more welcoming place to visit.”

And it has just launched its Little Books of Offers to encourage consumers into the town centre with a variety of offers for restaurants, shops and businesses.