Wiltshire Council to continue its successful grants programme to boost the county's high streets

The council's Wiltshire Towns Programme underlines its Business Plan commitment to have vibrant, well-connected communities by providing grants and meaningful support through local councils. This supports businesses to grow and promotes events that encourage visitors, support employment and transform Wiltshire's high streets to meet the needs of local communities.

As part of the Wiltshire Towns Programme, the council invited town and parish councils of all 18 Wiltshire towns, the city of Salisbury, plus Pewsey, Tisbury and Downton, to submit action plans to improve their high streets and attract more visitors to their communities. They have then received grant funding that is based on their own local priorities to improve their town centres.

Examples of the projects include new planters in Trowbridge town centre, improved signage in Corsham and an improved Taste Salisbury Food Festival.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said, The Wiltshire Towns Programme is a £1m per year investment into Wiltshire's high streets to support events, increase marketing and attract residents and visitors to stay and spend more with local businesses - which is one of our Business Plan aims.

Through the £285,000 generating activity grant fund, we are working in partnership with town, parish and city councils to create and sustain vibrant, resilient town centres by recognising and celebrating our high streets' unique identities.

As the first financial year of the Wiltshire Towns Programme has now ended, we are pleased to have worked successfully to grant the £285,000 allocated through the scheme to 22 local areas throughout the county to generate activity on their high streets.

We know high streets are facing many challenges, but by working together with our communities, we can help to revitalise our town centres.

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Some of the projects funded in the 2022/23 year include:

• redecoration of street furniture and railings in Chippenham
• short social media videos to promote Devizes
• new signage in Melksham
• new planters in Calne
• design work to redevelop the Rotunda in Westbury
• a new town hall light projector in Royal Wootton Bassett
• an extra tourism and events officer in Bradford on Avon
• additional bunting in Amesbury
• a community day in Pewsey
• new directional signs in Wilton
• town dressing improvements in Downton