STOWMARKET traders were today urged to claim a £90,000 cashpot or risk losing it.A scheme that offers to help pay for improvements to shop frontages in the town has so far received a poor take-up.
STOWMARKET traders were today urged to claim a £90,000 cashpot or risk losing it.
A scheme that offers to help pay for improvements to shop frontages in the town has so far received a poor take-up.
To boost interest, the Stowmarket Economic Regeneration Scheme is now offering to pay for three-quarters of the cost of any development. Previously, a 40 per cent cash sum had been on offer.
The idea is to improve the look of the town centre and make it more attractive to tourists, in keeping with a market town.
Patrick Taylor, project architect of the Stowmarket Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS), said: "Unfortunately the final year is now drawing to a close and unless I'm able to make grant offers before March 31 to allocate the funding, it is likely that up to £90,000 of external funding will be lost to the town.
"Such grants are seen as a way to help local trade in the town by enhancing the attractiveness to shoppers."
The moves are part of a wider effort to freshen up Stowmarket's shopping district as it attempts to claw in new trade.
A report into the future of the town centre has already suggested this scheme could help with these aims. Improving the street furniture is another issue currently under consideration.
What do you think? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or join the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here