Wokingham

After a year in limbo, Wokingham is a step closer to getting a new town centre manager.

Both Wokingham town and district councils have agreed to chip in £20,000 each to fund the town's first full-time champion who they hope will start in the spring.

A Wokingham steering committee was set up in October to tackle the town centre's issues, and top of the agenda was the new manager.

The town has been without one since last January when part-time manager Philip Sachse quit after less than a year in the job.

Leader of Wokingham Town Council David Lee said: "Both town and district councils have agreed to put significant money and resources into recruiting a high-quality town centre manager at what is a crucial time for the town. The town council will host the new manager, but the role will be directed by the steering committee."

At the end of this month the committee will meet to decide the exact role of the new manager.

Wokingham District Council's community development leader councillor Dianne King said: "The funding is there to employ someone, it's just a matter of deciding what the role should be."

She added: "It's very important for the viability of the town that we get someone who really knows what they're doing. We are all very keen to find someone as soon as possible."

The new manager will take on the day-to-day issues raised by shopkeepers, businesses and people living in and visiting the town.

David Carter of Wokingham Chamber of Commerce said: "We want to get on with the job of rejuvenating our town centre, and appointing a new town centre manager is a key step towards that."

Wokingham has been waiting for its new town centre redevelopment since a planning application was made in 2002.

The district council's planning committee approved plans to build new shops and flats in Rose Street, Peach Street and Market Place in July 2003. But developers Rockmartin now have more ambitious ideas which they are trying to iron out with district planners.

ic Berkshire ~ Wokingham