£160k fund on way for town centre boost

Last month Leighton-Linslade Town Council threw its hat in the ring for cash from a Central Beds Council fund designed to reinvigorate market towns across the county.

CBC has now decided to take forward three parts of LLTC’s bid, while five other projects have failed to gain the district council’s financial backing.

As a result LLTC is set to receive £159,500 of the £500,000 in match funding it was hoping to get from CBC.

The funding would pay for architectural lighting and electronic signage across the town centre, as well as for a relaunch of the market.

CBC has said that it will not use its market regeneration fund to pay for a pigeon-proofing scheme, free town centre Wi-Fi or the relocation of the taxi rank.

The establishment of a business improvement district and a ‘tourist historic legacy feature’ have also missed out on funding.

LLTC clerk Mark Saccoccio told the LBO: “It is still very early days but it is a step in the right direction.

“While it is not the complete package we would like to deliver it will help support our town centre objectives in terms of enhancing vitality, viabilty and increasing footfall.”

CBC’s executive committee will make a final decision on the market town regeneration fund on June 7.