Train station adopted by Blackburn BID

Blackburn Business Improvement District has committed to making the town centre's train station "cleaner, greener and more sustainable."

The group has 'adopted' the station in order to make it a more welcoming place for visitors to the town. The station serves 3,000 passengers per day, which is more than a million per year.

Blackburn BID will undertake planting projects at the train station in partnership with BID members, local community groups and schools to make it an attractive environment at the heart of the town centre.

Catherine Price, Blackburn BID manager, said: "One of the BID’s priorities is to make Blackburn cleaner, greener and more sustainable. We want visitors to Blackburn to have a great experience, and for the station to positively represent the town centre.

"Research shows having local communities involved and active at their local station reduces anti-social behaviour and helps bring the station into the heart of the community it serves."

The adoption follows on from the successful planting project Blackburn BID Growing Places – which has seen communal green spaces revitalised by groups and individuals, who have brought "colour and vibrancy" to different areas of the town centre.

Town centre planters and planting areas have been designed, planted and looked after by groups including Blackburn Youth Zone, Child Action North West, BwD Adult Learning, Blackburn Foodbank, Age UK, Nightsafe and Purple Patch.