HASLEMERE could have a town and projects manager within months after the town council gave the far-reaching scheme its blessing last week.

It followed a successful joint bid with Cranleigh by Waverley Borough Council to the Countryside Agency and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to receive up to £62,000 of government funding to carry out a "health check" public consultation and improvements.

Worried about committing finances to a scheme which will continue beyond next year's local council elections Mark Lelliott said that he believed that the council was there "to provide some continuity".

"I don't have an objection in principle to a town manager shared with Cranleigh, town managers become part of a successful town."

And Jean Arrick believed the scheme sounded like "an exciting opportunity".

After the meeting, the mayor of Haslemere Michael Barnes who with Michael Foster forms part of the town council steering committee for the scheme, said:

"We want wide public consultation and in July will be inviting comments from the people who live and visit the town on what they want to see."

All the ideas he said would then form the basis of recommendations made to the committee.

"My vision is very clear, I want to ensure the town has much more vitality for all age groups, particularly the younger element, a good parking policy and the right combination of business to lend itself to a successful town."

Mr Barnes said he would also like to see the town working very closely with the main organisations as well as with Haslemere Initiative - the organisation set up to encourage more shoppers and visitors to Haslemere.

Michael Foster echoed the mayor's thoughts and said the new post will be filled by a specialist who would be able to "run a health check on the town and proceed with the town's development plan."

"We need to see what our strengths and weaknesses are," he added saying that the next meeting of the steering group is scheduled to take place in the middle of next month.

Haslemere is one of 15 rural towns in the south east chosen to receive funding through the scheme.