[B]usiness and home owners in Wigton can now get help to spruce up the front of their properties, in a scheme funded by Allerdale Borough Council.
The Town Centre Shop and Residential Frontage Improvement Grant Scheme seeks to make the town more attractive to shoppers and visitors, and help improve the appeal of this great market town. It is available to all those who own properties in Wigton’s town centre, though priority will be given to properties in High Street, Market Place, King Street, Church Street and Water Street.
The scheme can provide up to £900 for each property, with the property owner match-funding this with 10% of the grant total. Therefore a £500 grant requires match funding of £50.
The money can go towards things like materials such as paint and any labour costs, the repair or replacement of damaged items like drain pipes or guttering, and any external lighting. The grant is not eligible for some work and it is best to consult with the Council before making an application.
Mark Fryer, Executive member with responsibility for economic growth and town centre development said: “This is a great scheme which has already worked really successfully in Maryport and so it is great to be able to roll it out to the people of Wigton too. I would encourage everyone who is eligible to get an application in and help make Wigton even more attractive for residents and visitors.”
The deadline for applications is 31 December 2017 with all invoices to be submitted by the end of January 2018. The applicant is expected investigate whether they would require planning permission or other consent. The application can come from tenants, though they must have the approval of the landowner.
Application forms are available from Allerdale Borough Council’s customer service desk in Wigton Market Hall in Church Street. Any queries should be made to the Council’s town centre manager, Toni Magean, at [email protected].
