Town council mounts campaign for future funding for Westbury

WESTBURY Town Council is asking Wiltshire Council for more funding after it was revealed the town has been excluded from the unitary authority’s Levelling Up application to the government, even though submissions will be made for Melksham, Trowbridge and Salisbury. 

Now, local councillors are asking that Westbury be included in a future round of applications and believe that the town’s ‘Vision for Westbury’ could help their cause. 

Town clerk Deborah Urch confirmed she has spoken with a Wiltshire Council officer who has supported the town council with the delivery of its ‘Vision for Westbury’ – a blueprint which aims to shape the future of the town and includes a range of ideas to make Westbury a better place to both live and visit.   

Deborah said, “The officer has also agreed to attend meetings in the future as there is expected to be a second round of the Levelling Up fund later in the year. If the town council can demonstrate that there is there is seemingly a good prospect, Wiltshire may be able to consider supporting a bid.  

“The officer went on to explain that the key focus from government right now is deliverability. The more advanced a project is, the more chance it has of funding for the Levelling Up fund. It also helps to have the support of the local MP. We understand the ‘Vision for Westbury’ will be helpful in demonstrating this.” 

As reported in the last issue of White Horse News, Westbury councillors expressed shock and disappointment” at Wiltshire Council leader cllr Richard Clewer’s confirmation that Westbury would not be included in the next application for money from the Government’s Levelling Up fund. The funds are designed to improve local infrastruc- ture, develop town centres and help local businesses. Following the news, Mayor, cllr Sheila Kimmins described  Westbury as the ‘forgotten enclave’. She said, “The town needs support to recover from the effects of pandemic restrictions, along with new jobs and infrastructure.” 

The ‘Vision for Westbury’ sub-committee meets for the first time on Wednesday 14th July to discuss the funding idea further and begin to prioritise future projects. 

The Vision document, which has been prepared by the council with architects Allies and Morrison, is a comprehensive plan to enable the authority to engage with the community and demonstrate its commitment to improving the look and feel of the town centre.  

It includes modern and aesthetic solutions for the town centre and to generate footfall and a list of projects that could be undertaken to benefit the community, that would allow the council to readily apply for appropriate town centre grant funding.