Background

After several months of hard work in submitting applications, in September 2007 the South East England Development Agency gave a grant of £120,000 to be spent on improving Whitchurch. The outline of the application, is below

The Whitchurch Town Centre Improvement Project aims to respond to the needs identified in the Town Health Check and projects promoted in the Town Action Plan. It will contribute to social progress, in particular:

• Sustaining a vibrant rural community
• Sustainable employment in rural areas
• Improved local access to services especially for the economically inactive

The initiative will achieve this through:

• The introduction of a range of new, improved, local and accessible services into the town to benefit businesses, workforce and residents.
• A town centre improvement project that will help to create a visually attractive heart and focal point for the whole community
• Improving safe access for residents and visitors
• The provision of a local Community e-work centre (serviced office/drop in centre) and encouragement of Teleworking.

The overall aim is for a viable, sustainable Town Centre with the specific objectives being to raise the profile of the Town, increase Town Centre footfall, improve the visual appearance of the Town Square and entry Gateways, better support local businesses and create a better ‘sense of place’.

The first of four main elements of the project is

Element One - Visitor Economy

Measures include Brown Tourist signs on the A34 trunk road (Whitchurch By-Pass); a new Town Amenities Guide; more events; new trails and an innovative community centred public art initiative that will create added media interest and further raise the Town’s profile. The visitor information on the Town Website will also be enhanced to include a video snapshot of the Town.