BEWDLEY'S economic regeneration prospects were set to get a boost from Wyre Forest district councillors last night.

Members of the district council's prosperity policy panel were being recommended to allocate £5,000 towards part funding a project officer for Bewdley Development Trust, the successor organisation to Opport-unity Bewdley.

The cash would come from the council's town centre partnership budget and had been req-uested by Bewdley Town Centre Management Forum.

Opportunity Bewdley had previously received £5,000 each year from the same budget, since its formation in 2002, initially to part fund its programme manager and later the project officer post.

With Bewdley's Market Towns Initiative funding now ended, the directors of Opportunity Bewdley decided to reform the company into a Development Trust Community Interest Company.

As a community-led partnership, the new trust will act as a business in a commercial and entrepreneurial way.

Town Centre Partnership funding is allocated on the basis of priorities, determined by relevant partnership and forum steering groups, with funds directed to projects where co-funding is available from partners.

Wyre Forest District Council will be represented on the trust by councillor Stephen Clee.