[W]igton town centre is being spruced up thanks to a scheme organised by Allerdale Borough Council.
Some 41 business and home owners in Wigton have applied to the scheme which can help pay for improvements to the front of the property to make the area more attractive to residents and visitors and improve the appeal of the centre of the town.
In total £36,293 has been paid out by the Council with a further £22,584 coming from the property owners. However, this is about half the money available from the Council, and therefore anyone who has not applied is encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
The money is available to all those who own properties in Wigton’s town centre, though priority will be given to properties on 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 worked really well in Maryport and it’s really good to see the people of Wigton taking advantage of it too. You can see the difference it is making to the Wigton and I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t applied to do so.”
The applicant is expected to 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 toni.magean@allerdale.gov.uk.
