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	The Market Weighton Town Crier

WARP to become Limited Company to take Town's regeneration to next phase.

Over the last three years the regeneration of Market Weighton has been handled by the Weighton Area Regeneration Partnership (WARP), set up by the regional development agency, Yorkshire Forward, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The three year scheme known as the Market Towns Initiative (MTI) aimed to regenerate rural areas and bring much needed visitors and businesses.

The success of the project is there for all to see when visiting the town; the £500,000 makeover of shops in the town, the new skatepark, monthly local producers' market, improved Christmas lights, new signage for the town's approaches, the community website (www.marketweighton.org) and many more projects in the pipeline.

Future projects will now be championed by a new non-profit company, WARP Limited, who eventually will be based at a new resource centre created from a recently acquired old chapel in York Road.

Andy Burton, a director of the newly formed company has kindly provided the Question and Answer session below:-

What will be the aims of the new limited company?

To continue to deliver projects in and around Market Weighton. The Deliverable Projects selected and suggested by the residents in MW & the area.

Who will be on the board of the new company?

Partners Include: East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Market Weighton Town Council, Market Weighton Chamber of Trade, the surrounding parishes, a group representing the businesses in the area, a community group representing the needs of the residents, a tourism and heritage group. The working groups will select a representative to be a director of WARP Ltd. The Town Council, ERYC and Chamber will appoint their representative directors.>

Which areas around Market Weighton will it serve?

The villages of Shiptonthorpe, Goodmanham, Londesborough, Sancton, North & South Cave, Newbold, Holme on Spalding Moor, Everingham, Hayton, Bielby, Seaton Ross

How much funding have you got to spend/how much will you need to fulfil your aims and where are you looking for new funding?

Apart from the funding of the building, we have very little money at present, but we have applied to the Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme fund and to the Sub Regional funding pot for the refurbishment costs, We will be applying for EEC money, Lottery, ERYC, Town Council, Local Fund raising, Local groups and charities, Leader+, Comic Relief, any other regional and national funding streams.

What is the timescale for the company - what is likely to happen next/are meetings being held to shape its future?

In the short term we will get the company fully formed and get the town informed and on board with what we are trying to achieve. Longer term to develop a delivery strategy for the town. The company should act as a catalyst for groups to work through to deliver the projects.

Why is such a company needed - how will you continue the work of the last three years?

There is still a lot to do in Market Weighton and with the resource building we have been given the opportunity to continue the work started by the MTI process. Many of the same people will be involved in the new process as were involved in the MTI. We also have a commitment from Yorkshire Forward and from the ERYC to help in the continuation and success in the project.

How can people get involved if they would like to?

By contacting myself or any of the other Directors, or through the Town Council in Linegate Market Weighton. My phone number is 01759 318140, my e-mail address is eaburton@fwi.co.uk

You say the best is yet to come - what can people look forward to in the future?

A vehicle to fulfil the deliverable wishes of the residents of the town and surrounding area. We want the projects to come from the residents, we just want to provide the means to deliver those projects.

What was the new resource building used for before and how important will it be as a part of the town - also when is it likely to open?

The building was built as a chapel, but it’s last use was a retail shop selling camping equipment. The refurbishments and alterations will probably take about a year depending on how quickly we can get the funding, but we would hope to have some areas ready for use by the end of the summer.

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First Posted : 8 May, 2005
Last revision : 8 May, 2005