Bid for £300k to improve town

7:00pm Saturday 6th September 2008

A bid to get £300,000 to improve Wallingford is being put together by the Wallingford Partnership and will be revealed during the autumn.

Local people will be asked for their ideas and suggestions about what changes can be made to make the town more attractive to tourists, businesses and residents.

The Partnership was set up by the town council as a completely independent body with the aim of getting the best for the town.

Because of its independence it can get external funding, unlike the town council.

Board member Lynda Atkins told members of the town council: "We hope to secure up to £150,000 from the South East England Development Agency and get a further £150,000 to match it from elsewhere."

The Partnership is made up of town councillors Ms Atkins and Andrew Lock, Wallingford School headteacher Wyll Willis, traders, and others under Derrick Hoare's chairmanship.