Cleckheaton is to bid for a share of £330,000 Kirklees funding to regenerate local towns and villages.

The cash is available for innovative projects such as small scale environmental improvements, floral schemes, cultural and arts events and heritage restorations.

Councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleck) is helping to pull together the town's ideas. "The money is to support towns and village centres across Kirklees in a very positive and tangible way. The schemes need to make towns more attractive and help and support traders in their work."

Speaking at the Spenborough Chamber of Trade meeting, she said the Christmas Lights Fund was one such project for which funding could be given, as were hanging baskets for the summer and flowers in the winter. Small neglected areas in the town centre that needed cleaning up could also be considered, but the Savoy site would be too big.

Funding for such events as the Christmas Victorian Day and the summer Folk Festival would be suitable as would any other scheme which would benefit local people and instil civic pride.

Other ideas discussed by Councillor Ann Rastrick (Lib Dem, Cleck) included providing signposting for local businesses, a town centre map, medieval-type themed flags outside shops advertising their trade and the creation of a bus terminus behind the Walkers Arms pub in Scholes.