Town’s grants to smarten shopfronts

A Herefordshire town has launched a scheme to help shop owners, tenants, and landlords smarten up their shopfronts.

Totalling £29,000 from Herefordshire Council’s Great Places to Visit fund, the grants from Ledbury Town Council will be up to £750 each, to be match-funded by businesses themselves, either in cash or in kind.

As well as retailers, the scheme is open to central Ledbury’s services, pubs, cafés, restaurants and takeaways.

“The appearance of shopfronts, and the buildings in which they are part of, has a considerable impact and influence on the character of the town,” the town council said.

The goal of the scheme is to support the growth of local businesses, improve the local environment and raising the image of the town centre with both locals and visitors, it added.

It warns businesses may need planning permission to make major alterations to their shop fronts.

To find out more about the Shop Front Improvement Grant Scheme, contact the town clerk on 01531 632306 or at clerk@ledburytowncouncil.gov.uk .