A SCHEME to improve Banbury’s town centre has been handed a cash boost.

In 2014, Cherwell District Council appointed team-co-ordinators Neil Wild and Iain Nicholson to start a “vitality initiative” project.

The goal was to boost footfall, reduce the number of empty shops, identify gaps in the sort of shops and leisure facilities there are in the town and promote Banbury to prospective new businesses.

For its first year the project, which reduced the number of empty shops from 53 last year to 45 this year, used the Government’s High Street Innovation Fund but now the council has agreed to inject some money itself.

Cllr Kieron Mallon, the lead member for Banbury Futures, said: “Like all town centres, Banbury faces many challenges and it is vital to have a town team working on its behalf.

“The town team helps drive initiatives that add to the centre’s attractiveness.”