Residents of Newent will soon start to enjoy the benefits of the town's £55,000 extra government funding, as reported in The Ross Gazette a fortnight ago.

The list of projects, which numbers 35, is set to improve the town's appeal to both residents and visitors alike and, it is hoped, regenerate the town after the effects of the foot and mouth crisis last year.

One suggestion is for Newent to hold a £2,000 Jubilee celebration, likely to involve fireworks, stalls and musical performances and proposed to take place on Bank Holiday Monday, June 3rd. The hope is to get residents involved in the organisation of the evening.

Newent town centre may also receive a makeover, with the Market Square being made a prominent feature and the Market House itself getting disabled access and an enhanced exhibition. Further suggestions include replacing the tired paving of the town centre, plus making Court Lane a more pleasant approach to the centre. It is also hoped that a developer for the derelict Bennion's garage site can be found, removing an eyesore from the town centre. Suggestions also include extra trees, mirroring the Silver Jubilee belt along Gloucester Road, plus extensive landscaping around the Health Centre.

Proposed for the lake and surrounding area meanwhile is improved pathways, fishing platforms, a bandstand and possibly a Jubilee fountain.

Further proposals suggest improving facilities for the residents, such as a café for youngsters, a bowling green and maybe even tennis courts. Children's play areas in Foley Road, Appledown Recreation Ground and those in the woods north-east of the lake have also been identified as areas in need of improvement.

One proposal suggests refurbishing the sports centre's changing rooms, allowing them to meet the Health and Safety regulations which forced the swimming pool to close. It has also been suggested that the Community School Hall is in line for raked seating, allowing it to be used as a small theatre, thus encouraging travelling theatre groups to perform in Newent. Cycleways and bus stops around Newent have also been earmarked for potential improvement.

Funding may also be used to improve the outdated "Welcome to Newent" signs on the approaches to the town. These would feature a bolder typeface, as well as a design representing the Market House and local daffodils. Notices could be displayed on a town notice board, and Newent may even get a website, promoting it as a tourist attraction.

Finally, in order to keep Newent safe, some of the funds may go towards CCTV cameras at Sheppard House, the Memorial Hall and Market Square.

The scheme could also offer up jobs locally, proposed is a shop front, to promote the initiative and a Town Manager, possibly part time, to run the scheme.

Sadly the funding does not allow for all of the 35 proposals to be carried out. However, if it can be proved that extra funding would be well spent, then it would be available.