BUSINESSES in Wilmslow town centre are being promised support to get back on their feet following the pandemic.

Wilmslow Town Council agreed its budget for 2021-22 on Monday, with the tax precept unchanged from this year.

As part of the budget, the council will set aside £25,000 for a town centre recovery management service, plus £50,000 for town centre events – £42,000 more than this year.

The increase in spending will be covered by a £17,000 saving from cancelled events this year due to the pandemic and £10,000 Covid recovery grant, with the remainder coming from the council’s reserves.

Cllr Martin Watkins, chairman of Wilmslow Town Council, said “The businesses in our town have struggled like all others in this difficult year and it is important that those who can, pull together to aid recovery.

“We believe that Wilmslow residents have a vested interest in the ongoing vitality of the town centre and Wilmslow Town Council believes we should invest funds raised from the residents to aid the business recovery.

“It is obviously important that over the longer term the business community rebuilds and contributes to this shared responsibility and also important that in the short term we strike the right balance in providing a sensible level of funding that fits with the proposals as they unfold.

“The budgeted figures I believe will allow us to do so.”

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The council intends to begin discussions with community action group Groundwork on launching a town centre recovery management service in the new year.

It has already been working with Groundwork, along with Wilmslow Business Group, to explore the feasibility of launching a business improvement district for the town.

The recovery service will be time limited to run from spring 2021 to spring 2022.