A NORTH Herefordshire councillor has hit out after a funding bid to give a county market town a face-lift was refused.

Councillor Terry James described the decision as 'the most appalling waste of taxpayers' money as well as abuse of community goodwill and effort' he has ever seen in his 20 years in public life.

'Expressing his extreme anger', Coun James wrote direct to the chairman of Advantage West Midlands (AWM) after its partner, the Rural Regeneration Zone Board refused funding to re-vamp Kington. Coun James claims that several hundred thousand pounds of public funds have been 'squandered' by AWM and its predecessors in consultations, reports, surveys and management fees.

The decision, reported in last week's Hereford Times, came as a shock for members of the Kington Area Regeneration Partnership who, in consultation with AWM, have spent 17 months drafting an application to the board.

The topic of regeneration in Herefordshire came under discussion during a meeting between the Herefordshire Council's cabinet and Conservative MEP, Philip Bradbourn. Mr Bradbourn said he would like to see more power given to councils to decide how money generated should be spent.

He said: "As most local authorities have been experiencing, in their dealings with these various regional development agencies, it has proved near impossible for local councils like Herefordshire to access all money available, which can prove vital in revitalising areas in need of regeneration.

"Herefordshire in this last year has only been able to access 46% of available EU funding which is by no means reflective of the council's efforts; the long winded processes involved in applying to such bureaucratic quangos, such as the Regional Development Agency, being the root of the problem.''

WHO SITS ON THE RURAL REGENERATION ZONE BOARD?

IN an attempt to stop further 'faceless bureaucrat' allegations being thrown at the RRZ, the Hereford Times asked for an up-to-date list of board members responsible for Herefordshire.

Here it is: Peter Pawsey (chair) - Private Sector Representative,

Mohammed Aslam - Worcestershire Race Equality Council (Worcestershire),

Alan Curless - Learning and Skills Council (Herefordshire & Worcestershire),

Philip Dazeley - Voluntary Sector Assembly (Herefordshire),

Walter Delin - Wyre Forest District Council (Worcestershire),

Philip Extance - Learning and Skills Council (Shropshire),

Tony Harris - AWM Board,

Lorraine Holme - Business Link (Shropshire),

Martin Holland - South Shropshire Housing Association (Shropshire),

Christine Jones - Business Link (Herefordshire & Worcestershire),

Martin Lowe - Private Sector Representative,

Neil Pringle - Herefordshire Council (Herefordshire)

Jane Reynolds - Private Sector Representative

Roger Walker - Shropshire County Council (Shropshire)