Street markets will be re-introduced into the centre of Whitchurch after more than 136 years – thanks to a £25,000 grant.
The Whitchurch Better Welcome group has started ambitious plans to bring street markets back into the town in a bid to attract more visitors.
Members of the group announced they have been awarded £25,000 from Advantage West Midlands which is co-ordinated by the Market Town Initiative group to help boost tourism.
The Whitchurch group hopes to get the grant match-funded and find extra cash to spruce up their town.
They also plan to improve street signs and produce DVDs, CDs and CD Roms promoting the area.
The last time there was a street market in Whitchurch was on October 18, 1872.
Chris Chambers, chairman of the Better Welcome group, said: “We would like to see the street markets re-established in the Bullring with theme markets in and around the town.
“They would be food markets primarily.”
Lynton McRae, from Pets 2000, said: “I think everybody would welcome the ideas of the Better Welcome Group and anything we can do to regenerate Whitchurch is good. To get a market down in the Bullring – that is marvellous.”
The group is now planning to meet later this month to arrange contracts.
Chris Wade, chief executive for Market Town Initiative, said: “It has been part of an on-going programme covering tourism in about 30 towns across the whole of the West Midlands and is just the start of a much bigger process.
“What we want to do with all the towns is to help them promote themselves more.”
A spokesperson for Advantage West Midlands said they would make an official comment on Friday.
