Banbury booming despite missing out on development money thanks to high street app

More than 500 business in Banbury have teamed up with a mobile app to spread the word on what the town has to offer.

Oxfordshire missed out on funding from the government to improve the high street, but organisers believe this will encourage shoppers back to the town.

• What is the project?

The scheme is a collaboration between the Banbury Improvement District (BID) and an app called LoyalFree.

The app provides information to visitors on what the town centre offers, whilst also working as a digital loyalty scheme.

Around 539 businesses who work with BID have joined the project.

• What is the Future High Streets fund?

An additional 50 towns are set to benefit from the £1 Billion Future High Streets fund.

Areas of Southampton and Portsmouth are due to benefit, alongside Salisbury.

Dover and Thanet will also get a share of the money.

But there was no money for announced for anywhere in Berkshire or Oxfordshire.