A Shepton Mallet district councillor has vowed to push to make sure the town gets its fair share of a government fund that is dedicated to help high street recovery.

Mendip district councillor for Shepton East, Garfield Kennedy, has said that the money the government has given to the area is "a drop in the bucket" of what is needed, but said he will do his best to make sure the town gets as much as possible.

Yesterday (May 25), the government announced it would be giving Mendip District Council £102,000 to help it revitalise the area's high streets following the coronavirus crisis.

However, Mr Kennedy said that the money equates to just 90p per head of population in the Mendip district.

The Liberal Democrat councillor told Shepton Mallet Nub News: "We need and deserve support after so much effort has been made by individuals and a proactive town council to boost Shepton's fortunes.

"However the contribution from the government's £50 million national fund to boost recovery of high streets across the whole of Mendip is too little in itself to make any lasting or tangible difference.

"The £102,000 equates to a contribution of about 90p per head of population in Mendip. If this was shared equally across all the settlements from Street in the west to Frome to the east then this sum is a drop in the bucket.

"That said, I will be pushing as hard as I can to ensure Shepton gets as much as it can get at this very challenging time."

Mr Kennedy is full of praise for the residents of Shepton Mallet who, he says, have been generous, big-hearted, mutually supportive and resilient during the coronavirus crisis.

"Well organised volunteers have helped neighbours in all sorts of ways including shopping for groceries and the collection of prescriptions," he said.

"All of the most vulnerable members in our community have now been contacted by Mendip District Council either by phone or in person to ensure support is there if needed.

"The town and district councils have both given additional funding to the Salvation Army to cope with high demand on their Shepton food bank.

"Shepton Mallet was the first parish in Mendip to conduct a full town council meeting with public participation via video conference.

"Working with partners, the council set up the HelpShepton.info website and 0800 061 4089 helpline to point residents to a wide range of support from delivery services to home schooling, or mental health resources to reporting or escape from domestic abuse.

"Both the town and district councils are focused on a greener future for Shepton post-Covid19 where footpaths and cycleways are getting priority.

"If the spirit of generosity that has been shown in our town during this pandemic can be maintained, then Shepton could well emerge into a brighter future."

For everything you need to know about Shepton Mallet and coronavirus, click here.