The Barrhead Business Improvement District (BID) steering group has confirmed that it will host is Christmas Fayre in front of Asda on November 28.

And at the latest meeting of the steering group on Monday, it was unveiled that Scotland’s Town Partnership had approached the steering group to conduct a video about Barrhead’s regeneration and the BID development for their forthcoming conference.

This comes on the back of the announcement that Barrhead is in the running to be officially recognised as “Scotland’s most improved town” and just says after hundreds of European politicians heard how the town had been transformed through regeneration.

Santa Claus himself will travel through the town on his sleigh, starting at Carlibar Road, travelling up Cross Arthurlie Street and arriving at Barrhead Foundry.

The event is set to include a stall market, kids entertainment and live shows courtesy of the team at Pulse 98.4, Barrhead’s community radio station.

There will also be treasure hunts and a showground rides at Tesco Barrhead.

It is the first major event of its kind to kick off the festive season in Barrhead for years.

Laura Molloy, the co-ordinator for the BID project said: “It’s set to be a great event that can really showcase what a BID can do for the town centre.

“This has all came about because local businesses get together and worked together to make something happening, and the funding is coming from the local authority and part funding is coming from Asda for the tree.

“This is a case of businesses doing it for themselves, and we hope it will shine a positive light on the BID process in the run up to the vote over whether it will be allowed to go ahead.” The first steps in forming BID were taken earlier this year and in the coming months 182 businesses and organisations based in the centre of Barrhead were consulted on how they think the future of the town should be shaped.

A steering group comprising local business people has been established and charged with the task of devising a five-year business plan tailored to the specific needs of Barrhead.

The project is one of a growing number of similar BID initiatives sprouting up across the country, with 27 already up and running, including in Giffnock and Clarkston, and a further 19 in development.

The BID framework has been used to enhance town centres, tourism or business parks with successful examples bringing a range of improvements such as better safety and security measures, community events, marketing and loyalty schemes, all of which can drive footfall and attract more investment.

The Christmas event is the first major project for the group.

The event will run from 12pm with the stage acts starting at 1pm.

Santa will then turn on the tree at 4.30pm in the afternoon.

There is set to be plenty to do for all the family, with kids performing live shows, a Santa’s grotto, stalls and the fun fair at Tesco.

For more information about the event and the BID, and copies of the latest meeting minutes, visit ww.allaboutbarrhead.co.uk