Report by MHARI KELLY

A BID is being made to English Heritage by Congleton Borough Council for money to develop tourism and shopping facilities in Middlewich.

Should the effort be successful, it will mean that thousands of pounds could be spent on environmental and cultural improvements to the town.

The bid has been welcomed by Middlewich mayor Clr Ben Hart, who believes it could breathe life back into Wheelock Street and enhance the canal sides as a tourist attraction.

He said: "English Heritage has decided that ourselves and Sandbach are well worthy of applying for the grant.

"It looks as if a certain amount of money may come our way to improve heritage in our town. This could include the canal sides and the town centre and it would be very advantageous to us."

Daniel Onn, of Congleton Borough Council's planning department, revealed that he had met with regional officers from English Heritage to discuss the proposals.

He said: "I approached them at the earliest opportunity to discuss the potential of Middlewich and Sandbach as future bids.

"Following detailed discussions and a tour of the conservation areas, the English Heritage case officer indicated that both town centres would be well eligible for consideration but indicated that it would be unlikely for any authority to receive more than one offer of a Heritage Regeneration Scheme.

"If the bid is successful in Middlewich, improvements could include repairs to buildings, reinstatement of architectural features and developing the canal conservation area."

The preliminary stage of the bid will be presented to English Heritage this week. If it is successful an implementation plan must be completed by March next year and Middlewich could receive the money in April 2000.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.