Scheme puts character back into towns’ shops
Retailers in Wellington and Wiveliscombe can take advantage of a Taunton Deane Borough Council scheme designed to make the towns even more attractive places to shop.
The shop front enhancement scheme aims to encourage new and existing retail businesses to refurbish or re-instate traditional shop fronts or replace unsympathetic shop fronts improving the look of the towns for both residents and visitors while encouraging economic development.
The Council’s Economic Development Team is visiting retailers to tell them about the scheme at first hand, distribute information leaflets and to encourage them to get involved.
Both Wellington and Wiveliscombe have a large number of individual “niche” shops and the Council believes that enhancing their individuality through the shopfront scheme can only benefit the towns’ prosperity.
Councillor Norman Cavill, who holds the economic development portfolio, said: “This is a scheme that will benefit individual retailers and the towns. I would encourage people to talk to the economic development team and take up the grants available where possible. We want to do all we can to boost the economy and prosperity, especially in these challenging times.”
Businesses can apply for a grant of up to £500, or 50% - whichever is the lower figure - for the cost of eligible works to enhance their shop fronts. Applicants can benefit from one grant from the scheme in any three-year period. Grants cannot be claimed retrospectively. The scheme is targeted at the smaller retailers of the town
Those interested in applying should first talk to the economic development team to make sure they are eligible and then provide the following information:
• Have a business plan, including a cash flow forecast for the next three years
• Must be the landlord or have the landlord’s consent, in writing, to carry out the work - evidence of this will be required
• Have the necessary planning consents approved - please note this can take up to eight weeks to agree
