Whitchurch Town Council wants second round bid from High Street fund

The funding, which was launched by the government as part of the chancellor's commitment to the High Street with the £675 million Future High Streets Fund to support high streets to adapt, transform and meet the changing expectations and functions of high streets; not just to survive, but to thrive.

Mark Barrow, executive director of Place at Shropshire Council, said that three towns in the county have put themselves forward for the funding with Shrewsbury and Oswestry proceeding with bids for the first round of funding while Whitchurch have expressed an interest in the second round.

He headed up a panel consisting of business leaders in the area, and they recommended that both Shrewsbury and Oswestry go forward to the first round, and praised Whitchurch's pro-active work towards the second round.

He added: "The panel also noted that Whitchurch would like to be considered for the second round of funding in 2020. The panel recommends that this should progress forward to work up a stronger proposal.

"The panel is very pleased that Whitchurch will be building towards a submission for the next round and recognises that developing a BID in Whitchurch would strongly help encourage the engagement of the local businesses in the development of the submission."

Whitchurch mayor Tony Neville added: "While we are still more than 20 months away from submitting a bid for the second round of funding in 2020, the town council is laying the ground work towards trying to bring money in from the fund.

"I am aware that Shropshire Council believe we are doing the right thing in preparing the BID, and it is good to know that we are potentially on the right track to releasing funds that will only go to serve our High Street.

"I hope that over the coming months as we prepare the BID, businesses and business people who have Whitchurch's best interests at heart can come together to help us tap into this government money."