MIDDLEWICH Vision has won grants of almost £300,000 for town centre and canalside improvement works over the next two years.

As reported in the Chronicle last week, the Vision team had secured £20,000 for a managed wildlife area in town - and much more is now promised for projects including the Town Wharf redevelopment and traffic improvements.

Vision project manager Stephen Dent said: 'We have been working hard to bring in this money to the town and it looks as though we have managed to secure grants and match-funding revenues of £280,000. It is great news.'

Aside from the wildlife area, the Vision's main focus will be on the regeneration of the Town Wharf, which has stood derelict since the 1970s, perhaps as a museum, a cafe, canal boaters' facilities or small business offices.

Mr Dent said: 'We have about £62,000 in grant and match-funding for work on the Wharf and some other smaller projects, and by the end of the year we will have completed planning and traffic surveys and appraisals of the site so that we can decide its best use.' The Vision will also be focusing on traffic issues after provisional approval of a £198,000 funding package.

Mr Dent said: 'We will be using the money to improve parking and traffic flow in the town centre and particularly Wheelock Street. Cheshire County Council is designing new car parking plans and believes the work could be completed by the end of this financial year.'

Some of the cash will also be used on events including Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival and town centre events including entertainment at the Bull Ring and heritage days.