BUSINESSES in Wigton, Workington and the Solway Coast are being encouraged to help set up a new business forum for the town.

Allerdale Borough Council is asking businesses in the town to give their views on plans to create forums for traders.

The new groups would be chaired from someone within that local business community and focus on representing the concerns of firms, providing a networking forum, developing joint initiatives, supporting recovery from Covid-19 and working with other organisations such as the borough council.

Cllr Mike Johnson, the council’s Deputy Leader and Executive member for economic growth, community development and placemaking, said: “Groups such as Cockermouth Chamber of Trade and Keswick Tourism Association are well established business organisations that help articulate the views of local businesses and coordinate promotional activity on a local basis.

“We have worked closely with these groups on a number of projects and initiatives in the past and we are looking to help replicate this in other areas of Allerdale.

“We appreciate that there are other business member organisations out there, for example Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and Cumbria Tourism, and these groups play an important role in supporting businesses however, this initiative is about local issues and improving joint working.”