THINGS may finally be looking up for Farnham’s high street, with one of the town’s longest-serving independent stores expanding in Lion and Lamb Yard.

Colours Shoes & Co opened its doors on Thursday, March 15, selling a wide range of brands including well-known makes such as Geox, Sketchers and Timberland, and some European shoe brands.

Colours has traded out of its store opposite Waitrose in Lion and Lamb Yard for 30 years now and in a time when shops were closing all over Farnham, news of an independent expanding in the town will be welcomed.

As well as shoes, shoppers can purchase artificial flowers, a range of its own brand cosmetic items and its own brand of candles and diffusers.

Derek Small, owner, said: “I think there’s always opportunities if you can find the right products, at the right price, and create a market. I do believe there is one here in Farnham because I don’t think there’s many shoe shops available for people of all different age groups.

“We’re hoping to try and find our way through and keep it in the same fun and exciting, and maybe slightly different, fashion that we already have in Colours the original.

“I think Farnham struggles like every other town but I think it gets a good support from the local community, I think that’s how we’ve managed to survive and hopefully people appreciate independence.”

There’s news of other stores coming into Farnham, including two new shops on West Street - Space NK Apothecary, moving into what was previously Barkers, and Oliver Bonas.

Okomoko is an independent vegan cafe and is hoping to open in mid-April on Downing Street. Owner, Sam Doherty, decided to open the cafe after becoming vegan herself and realising how difficult it was to eat out.

The mum of five said: “I am totally in love with my shop on Downing Street, it’s so quaint and has such a wonderful feel to it. I want to show people vegan food isn’t just lettuce and tomatoes! And you don’t have to be vegan or even vegetarian to come in and enjoy the food.”

Millie Jones Hair is also set to open a salon in Downing Street in May, adding to its existing salon in Haslemere, while Downing Street coffee shop Krema also has plans to expand into Guildford.

Curchod & Co, a commercial real estate agency in Farnham, also brought good news when they told the Herald that some of the retail units they are dealing with are now under offer.

Number 2-3 West Street, previously Elphicks The Bed Store, is under offer to a national multiple operator, described by the estate agency as a “good sit amongst the town”.

The unit which was formerly Clinton Cards, 18-19 The Borough, is now under offer to somebody who used to be in the Woolmead, although Curchod & Co could not reveal who.

Number 24 The Borough, previously Workstation, is also under offer, and 6-8 South Street, formerly Kitchen Kapers, has had two offers but the unit is undergoing improvement works before an offer is accepted.

Waverley Borough Council (WBC) is working to improve the situation too, by inviting local businesses to join other local businesses and the chambers of commerce across Waverley to discuss the possibility of a Business Improvement District (BID).

A BID is a business led initiative supported by government legislation that gives local businesses the power to raise and spend funds locally with the aim of improving their own business environment.

It is an investment scheme where local businesses agree how their money should be invested to benefit themselves, their employees, customers, clients and their area.

There are already over 290 BIDs successfully operating across the country.

A spokesperson for the Waverley joint chambers of commerce, representing Cranleigh, Farnham, Godalming and Haslemere, said: “We have watched the success of the many BIDs in the UK which have improved their business environments, our closest being in Guildford which has just entered its second five year term.

“It is early days and this process could take 18 months to two years but we feel that there are opportunities for our high streets and business communities to benefit from a BID which addresses local needs on a town by town basis.

“We would very much like to hear from large and small businesses who would like to be part of the early discussions and feasibility study.

“Businesses do not need to be members of the chambers to take part.”

Councillor Jim Edwards, Waverley’s economic development portfolio holder, said: “A BID is a fantastic opportunity that could really help the local economy.

“If successful, a BID has the potential to transform our town and village centres, change the game for local businesses and bring significant benefits to Waverley.

“We have committed to fund a feasibility study to review potential BID areas, find out the level of interest, assess the viability of a BID and consider various options that could be adopted.

“Local businesses can take this opportunity to make their voices heard, be part of the development of the BID proposal and help shape the future of Waverley’s business sector.”

Interested Waverley businesses should contact their local chambers of commerce or email [email protected].