Cash injection bid to boost Wellington town centre

Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet is set to discuss using £180,000 to implement improvement ideas set out in a report commissioned together with Wellington Town Council.

The ambitious plans could see the Charlton Arms Hotel brought back into use and the High Street given a new lease of life by converting empty shops into flats.

Attempts to bring the former Clifton Cinema building back to life will be given a financial boost and money could also help bring forward housing plans for the former Arriva bus depot.

Walker Street could also be enhanced under the plans to improve the gateway to the town centre.

The action plan has been written up based on recommendations in a report called Vision 2020.

The borough council's cabinet is also set to support the authority in entering into a funding agreement which would see it receive £10,000 in 2014/15 and £15,000 from Wellington Town Council. The £10,000 will be matched by Telford & Wrekin so a dedicated professional officer can ensure the Vision 2020 report is delivered.

A report to go before cabinet members at a meeting on Thursday says: "Wellington centre, like many secondary town centres, has suffered from a changing retail environment accentuated by the recent economic recession.

"Vacant space has increased, led by the withdrawal of high street names, resulting in a different future for the vitality of the centre.

"The town council recognised the changing dynamics and commissioned a report setting out a vision for the future of Wellington centre."

It comes a week after the Ryman stationery shop on New Street became the latest closure.

Town councillors backed the project last month and councillor Karen Tomlinson, mayor of Wellington, said: "The plans could be fantastic for the town.

"This project is really exciting, and will help push tourism forward. We have a lovely National Trust area, and it would be fantastic to encourage people to come to Wellington.

"It is a great partnership working with Telford & Wrekin, and it is really exciting that we are trying to regenerate the town centre."

The Vision 2020 plans were first published in January, but more details were revealed during a presentation delivered by Telford & Wrekin Council's inward investment & housing group manager Phil Edwards, who is working closely with the town council to get the project going.