The chairman of Visit Hadleigh last night warned the town's pop up information service will not be provided after Hadleigh Town Council decided against giving them the full £2,000 grant asked for.

Visit Hadleigh requested the grant, half the amount they asked for in February, in order to set up a Visitor Information service at number 85 in the High Street from May to September to provide a programme of exhibitions to attract visitors – subject to any Covid restrictions.

Stuart Service and the VI manager Jane Snowdon applied for £2,000 to cover the £1,500 rent, and public liability insurance of £212. However, councillors, chose to fund three other applicants ahead of Visit Hadleigh but granted the group £1,573, which was the retainer of this year grants budget.

Councillors argued the application had only shown a requirement for £1,712, a grant of £300 from last year was unused due to Covid

After being unable to speak during the segment deciding the grant allocation, Mr Service told councillors after the decision had been made that the shortfall meant the VIS would not be able to operate.

Mr Service said: "It is really important people understand Visit Hadleigh is trying to help regenerate the high street after the past 12 months, which have been really difficult where a number of businesses have suffered severely.

"What we are trying to do is encourage people to visit the town and then spend money in the town supporting those businesses.

"We are a team of volunteers that are doing this in our own time to help those business and help Hadleigh thrive.

"The money we have asked for is significantly less that what we asked for last month because we have now found some High Street premises.

"What we do need is money to leaflets printed and posters and to run that set up. That takes into account all the work volunteers are doing free of charge.

"The money you have given us will not allow us to do that, therefore Visit Hadleigh will not be able to run the visitor information centre this year, which is a real shame as it is a worthwhile cause."

Hadleigh in Bloom's request for £1,200 towards planters was deferred until next month, when a new annual budget would be allocated.

Councillors did agree to give:

• £950 to The Hadleigh Society towards the upgrade of the Hadleigh Society website and completion of a Local List of

Non-Designated Heritage assets in Hadleigh.

• £960 to SERV towards the Suffolk and Cambridgeshire volunteers' advanced motorcycle riding qualification annual

• £2,500 to Fresh Start, which offer new beginnings to deal with the effects of sexual abuse on a Hadleigh young person.

• £2,940 to Hadleigh GreenCare Allotment Group towards the provision of support to people with mental health problems through a weekly group based on an allotment.