SHOPKEEPERS and businesses in Petersfield will have to foot the bill if they want the town manager to carry on attracting customers for them.

And on Tuesday night East Hampshire District councillors refused to hand traders the full grant money they asked for, until they proved they were prepared to give him more

support.

The Head of Economic Development and Tourism, Mike Gibbs, recommended members of the Central Area Community Committee to hand over £6,500. This, he claimed, would help the group carry out their business plan in 2003-4.

He recommended councillors cut the funding the following year, offering a grant to no more than £3,250, and nothing in future years.

But some councillors said they were unimpressed with Petersfield Marketing LtdÕs budget figures and they wanted more information.

They said they were also ÒdisappointedÓ with the level of financial support from businesses in the town.

Councillors pointed out there were huge gaps in the information provided on expenses and income.

Councillor Teresa Jamieson said she was involved in setting up of the marketing panel, which was the precursor of Petersfield Marketing Ltd.

ÒIt seems we havenÕt moved on a lot further,Ó she told the meeting, Òother than to employ someone part time. There are the same ideas, same funds. I guess there is a limit to what you can do, but for me, this lacks some sort of sparkle.Ó

She pointed out that when the Petersfield traders first asked for money they were told there were no no funding beyond the three years agreed in 2001. ÒDespite knowing that, they have not made the effort to get more money from businesses themselves,Ó she said.

Mrs Jamieson was also concerned about the lack of information in the groupÕs budget and the rising cost of the town manager.

Andrew Pattie complained he was unable to make a decision on whether to grant money to the group with the inadequate information provided: Òand the more we look into it the worse it getsÓ.

ÒWe canÕt make a decision, the information we have here is insufficient. We canÕt be expected to decide when so much detail has not been given to us. IÕd like to defer this.Ó

Andrew Pattie told Mr Gibbs: ÒYou are basically saying if we donÕt pass this now, the whole project will collapse. IÕm not entirely sure that is a good way to go about this. Perhaps this report should have come to us two months ago so that we did not have to put our heads on the block.Ó

But Bob Ayer, chairman of the Central Area Community Committee and EHDCÕs representative on the marketing group, told councillors: ÒI believe the author of the budget is very reluctant to put something before this meeting which shows a negative bottom right-hand corner.Ó

He added: ÒI share the disappointment that in direct visible terms the businesses community donÕt show. I share that concern and I voice it often. The town manager is well aware of it and has has made strenuous efforts to address that item.Ó

But he said the town manager had been heavily involved in liaison work between businesses and the county council over on-going disruptive roadworks in the town.

ÒUndoubtedly this is creating an interest in town management by the business community that perhaps wasnÕt previously there.Ó

Mr Ayer said he believed in town management and businesses realised they needed to bridge the communication gap between themselves and the town and district council.

He said he believed a new Petersfield 100 Club, due to be launched later this month, would bring in more funds.

The club, for which there would be a £50 fee, aimed to give businesses a chance to air their views.

Town councillor George Watkinson added: ÒThere has been a disappointing start to the group but there is a glimmer of hope. I do believe this is the start of a curve and the start is purely because of the hard work of the town manager.Ó

Council leader Elizabeth Cartwright told the committee: ÒIt would be very sad if this council was to pull the plug on this if it was about to take off and be useful to the town and the businesses therein.Ó

The committee agreed to give Petersfield Marketing half of its grant now and the remainder following a report on

its progress in three monthsÕ time.