PERSHORE is hoping to receive a £300,000 windfall from the Government to spend on regeneration projects.

An application under the Government's Market Towns' Initiative is being compiled by Wychavon District Council's economic development officer Phil Merrick to see if the town can receive 10 times more than the £30,000 it is currently eligible for. Under the Rural White Paper, Evesham would receive £300,000 as a first tier town and Pershore would receive £30,000, as it is considered second tier.

The town council will now push to receive the same amount as Evesham by including a report on its work and what it has provided for the town.

Mr Merrick was invited to a town council meeting last Thursday to update councillors on the bid and to consult them on the report.

Councillor John Grantham said if the council was to receive the money, it would be looking at funding a pathway from the High Street to the Abbey, to run alongside the new Town Hall.

He said: "A lot of money is being spent on the town hall conversion and we would be looking at funding the walkway from there to the Abbey which, when complete, will offer the town a view of the Abbey from the High Street."

Mr Merrick said: "This money is for regenerating towns and villages and the amount will depend on the funding available from the Government.

"We also have to do a 'health check' to measure the economic, social and environmental health of the area.

"My encouragement to Pershore is that they work up a quality bid, which we can then put in before the end of January."