Hungerford tourism committee ‘will be inclusive’

Consequently, councillors offered reassurances to the Chamber of Commerce and Town and Manor that it was to be an inclusive body.
Last November a public spat broke out over a £10,000 windfall for the town.
As the council prepared to vote on establishing the committee, David Small warned: “You will really upset the Chamber of Commerce.”
And later chamber chairman Nigel Perrin said: “It’s a bit of a co-incidence that the town council has suddenly decided to establish a tourism sub committee now there’s money available.”
At the latest meeting, Rupert Thompson noted: “It would appear some noses have been put out of joint. We want to find a way to accommodate the chamber and should perhaps delay adopting the terms of reference to give them a chance to have some input.”
Richard Hudson agreed: “It’s important to get the chamber involved - do we really want to rush into this?” Martin Crane, who had pushed for the establishment of the committee, offered his own olive branch, saying:
“The chamber was awarded £10,000 from the Mary Portas scheme which is held in abeyance by West Berkshire Council. I’m not minded that should be taken from them - we need our own, individual budget.
“There was a view that we were somehow undermining other activities but I see the committee as a channel for ideas working alongside the chamber and Town and Manor and any other interested bodies.”
Rupert Thompson also suggested the committee should consider aspects other than just the retail and hospitality trade, such as attracting new business to the town.
He added: “Perhaps it could be done under the umbrella of the town council but it needs to be joined up - it’s essential that there’s representation from the other bodies and that way we’ll have more muscle to get things done.”
It was agreed to defer forming terms of reference until other bodies had been consulted and until after Mr Crane had attended an Action for Market Towns advisory group meeting.