VISITORS to Whitchurch may soon be given a helping hand with sightseeing around the town, courtesy of the town council.

At October’s full council meeting, to be held on Thursday, October 21 at Whitchurch Civic Centre, councillors will discuss requesting funding from Shropshire Council’s Welcome Back Fund.

The fund is aimed at welcoming communities back into town centres, post-lockdown.

Shropshire Council was given more than £280,000 of the national pot, which local councils could then request to pay for local improvements.

In July, councillors voted in favour of approaching Shropshire Council for funding and now a specific use for any potential funding has been drawn up aimed at encouraging visitors to Whitchurch.

Councillors have floated an idea to produce a ‘wayfarer map’, to promote the town and its points of interest.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Andy Hall supported the idea and suggested the town council work with Whitchurch Business Group on the plan.

He said: “I understand that WBG is also considering creating a Whitchurch town map and have also asked for funding towards this.

“I think it would be really useful to marry them both up together utilizing all our stakeholders’ ideas and inputs.”

Councillors will also discuss an expression of interest from a market company to deliver a market in Whitchurch and agree on how to proceed.

At September’s full council meeting, councillors heard from Clare Bellingham of Blackberry Fair, who spoke of plans to re-establish the Saturday market.

The Makers Market was a monthly fixture in Whitchurch, before the town was cut from the operators’ list of locations earlier this year.

Cllr Hall said he would be in favour of a new market.

He said: “I would like to fully support the return of a market every first Saturday of the month, this has been greatly missed – after all, we are a historic market town.

“I also understand that Blackberry fair would also like to be involved and such a partnership which could add to this becoming more sustainable.”

Councillors are also set to discuss West Mercia Police’s recent Safer West Mercia Plan.

Earlier this year Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion, launched the plan to deliver a safer West Mercia, and gave communities the chance to shape the final version.

As part of a consultation to gather views, the public have been able to have their say on the focus for policing in the coming years and how it will benefit their communities, including Whitchurch.

The plan will shape West Mercia Police’s objectives for the next five years, with the consultation taking place until November 1.

The most recent plan was updated in June, 2020 and councillors will share their thoughts on the plan, and whether the town council should make any official representations.