TENBURY is set to become the first of three market towns in the area to be given a town centre manager.

The appointment of an idea generator and project overseer was originally flagged up by Malvern Hills District Council for April this year, but then put off until 2004/2005 for budget reasons.

Now the money is likely to be made available for September next year, ahead of Malvern and Upton-upon-Severn.

The new role will give Tenbury a dedicated officer to ensure the town develops in a planned way geared to the needs of the population.

He or she would be charged with ensuring the town had the right shops for a rural community and lead the growth of business and industry.

Grants

The scheme will cost £20,000 in the first six months, part of which would come from rural regeneration grants, it is hoped.

"A town centre manager would liaise with all other agencies connected with the town with a view to helping Tenbury develop as a vibrant centre," said deputy council leader Paul Cumming.

"The manager would bring his or her own ideas and put them together with ideas that come from the people of Tenbury."

The town centre manager is a revival of a scheme started in Malvern but was dropped after three years because of council policy changes.

Although Malvern's population is about four times bigger than Tenbury, Mr Cumming said it had been put first in the queue "because we see Tenbury as an important town which needs extra effort if it is not to lose its shops and end up in rural isolation."