Moretonhampstead town centre is set to get a makeover thanks to a grant scheme that will provide retailers with funding to upgrade their shop fronts.

The Parish Council has £10,000 to spend on the Shop Front Grant Scheme, which it hopes will make the town centre more attractive and inviting.

‘We believe this will not only boost local pride but also attract more visitors and benefit local trade,’ a spokesperson from the Parish Council said.

However, retailers only have until Friday November 15 to apply for the funding. Application forms for the grant are available on the Parish Council website.

The £10,000 grant comes from the UK government Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) administered by Teignbridge District Council. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is government money that is shared out by district council to help ‘improve pride in place and life chances across the UK by investing in communities and place, supporting local businesses, and people and skills’.

Moretonhampstead Parish Council has also secured £7,500 of UK Shared Prosperity Funding to pay for a traffic survey. Conducted by external consultants, the survey will look at ways to reduce through-traffic in the town to create a safer, more welcoming environment for residents and visitors. The traffic survey will consider air quality, disabled access, street parking, and delivery arrangements for businesses in the town centre.

Moretonhampstead is not the only town centre to use Shared Prosperity Funding to improve its shopping area. Retailers and business owners in Dawlish are also benefitting from a shop improvement grant scheme.