Loyalty card and tourist initiatives commended (From The Oxford Times)

Loyalty card and tourist initiatives commended

3:10pm Friday 18th May 2012 in Abingdon

WANTAGE has been applauded for schemes to boost business and tourism.

The Wantage Means Business project was highly commended in the Action for Market Towns awards this month.

The project, run by the town and district councils and the Wantage chamber of commerce, included launching the Wantage and Grove Loyalty Card in October. Wantage Town Council offered match funding for improvements to shop fronts and refurbished the King Alfred statue, street furniture and floral displays.

John Naish, president of Wantage and District Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is great to have the hard work of the organisations involved recognised in this way.

“Wantage likes to take a positive approach and this award demonstrates what can be achieved when people work together for the benefit of the wider community.”

Two hours of free parking has also been introduced in Vale of White Horse District Council car parks and free wireless internet is available in the town centre. Geoff Peck, of The Creative Cookshop, said: “From our perspective, the marketing of Wantage together with initiatives such as the Market Place area improvements, free parking periods and the loyalty card are all working together to encourage visitors from other towns not just to visit us, but to return time and again.”