THE Market and Coastal Towns initiative (MCTi) was set up to help fund the revitalisation of the town, but some on Holsworthy Town Council have concerns it isn’t as well attended as it should be, writes Zoë Uglow.

The campaign was launched in 2001 and was initially driven by former town councillor Pam Johns with an aim of making the town a more inviting place for visitors, locals and shoppers.

The MCTi is a nationwide scheme, which contains local boards to oversee each area. They look at projects in and around Holsworthy and, if they are viable with community support, the committee will propose them for funding.

Since its launch in 2001 the MCTi scheme has attracted millions of pounds for Holsworthy and Holsworthy Hamlets for projects. These include £700,000 to refurbish the Memorial Hall, and £6,500 for a local food for schools project.

However, concerns were raised at the recent town council meeting that councillors and the public have not been informed of when these meetings are being held.

Cllr Barry Parsons, Holsworthy Rural’s county councillor and member of the county council’s cabinet, raised the topic of the MCTi during his report to the town council’s full meeting on Wednesday, April 6.

He said: “It is a good opportunity for people to come and have their say with regards to where the funding, available to me, should be spent.

“We want to bring the parishes together in one place as I sometimes find it difficult to travel out to all the parish meetings in a month, when many are happening around the same time, to hear what is going on in their areas.

“We can use the MCTi meetings as a vehicle to bring them all together in one place and hear what they have to say.”

Deputy mayor, Cllr Jon Hutchings raised his concerns that very few people have been informed about when these meetings are held, he said: “There is a stigma surrounding the MCTi and I think it puts people off as they don’t feel it is open to them.

“I don’t think we have heard anything about this before Cllr Parsons mentioned it today.”

Mayor John Allen said: “Everyone is welcome to attend the meetings and we want to get more people to come and help make the decisions which affect all of us.”

Torridge District Councillor, Ken Carroll said: “It offers something a bit different.”

Cllr Parsons concluded by saying: “Come along to one of our meetings Jon and have your say.”