Almost £50,000 of additional funding has been allocated by Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council to support projects to reopen, as well as promoting and improving the town.

Several of the projects identified are being delivered by the Town Council alongside Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID), such as jointly-funding the recently launched What’s On Sutton Coldfield, and working with the BID and Birmingham City Council to deliver social distancing measures outside businesses on Parade and Birmingham Road.

Other projects approved for additional, one-off funding this year will support schemes that may have been at risk should BID funding be reduced due to the ongoing and unknown economic impact of Covid-19.

The Town Council has separately commissioned Urban Movement, the transport consultants for the town centre masterplan, to recommend measures that improve safe walking routes to, from and around the town centre to encourage active travel choices and support social distancing requirements.

The proposed walking measures will also help road, bus and rail networks respond to future increases in demand by easing peak capacity. The designs are currently with Birmingham City Council to consider as part of their Emergency Transport Plan and for inclusion in Emergency Active Travel Fund.

Councillor Simon Ward, Leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said: "Our town centre continues to be a top priority for resident and the Town Council. We understand Business Improvement Districts across the country are facing significant budgetary challenges, so the Town Council has stepped up to provide one-off additional financial support for key projects to help people use our town centre safely, build confidence as businesses resume trading, ensure major projects such as the town centre masterplan and much-needed street lighting improvements are delivered, as well as making sure the town centre looks fantastic this Christmas with festive lights"

Details of the projects receiving additional Town Council funding include:

• An increase of £25,000 to the town-wide festive lighting budget, ensuring the town centre receives decorations this Christmas and covering the BID’s original planned budget;
• An additional £10,000 towards the cost of the town centre masterplan, covering the BID’s original contribution to this and enabling the project to continue at pace;
• A further £7,402.50 towards replacement streetlights along Parade, covering the BID’s original contribution;
• £4,362 for the development of What’s On Sutton Coldfield, the new place brand for Sutton Coldfield and jointly delivered by the Town Council and BID;
• £2,450 to design safe walking routes to, from and around the town centre for consideration as part of the Department for Transport’s Emergency Active Travel Fund.