DEVON county councillors Julian Brazil and Sir Simon Day are allocating £8,000 to help support traders in Kingsbridge and Salcombe during gas renovation work.

Cllr Brazil told Kingsbridge town council that a locality budget windfall had been allocated to individual councillors and came to £4,000 each. He intended to hand all of his share over to Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce to help support businesses in Kingsbridge.

Cllr Brazil said: 'I hope it will help the traders out in their hour of need and I hope it will be well received.'

Cllr Brazil explained that the money would be given to the chamber for use however they see fit and he has put no conditions on how the money should be used.

He said he believed some of it might be used to mount a publicity campaign to ensure people realise the town is still open for business.

And he added: 'The chamber have the town's best interests at heart and they should know what the money should be used for it.'

Kingsbridge mayor Cllr John Binns enquired if the residents of Fore Street had been considered.

Cllr Brazil said: 'No. Having roadworks outside your front door is a pain – but it's the businesses that really need support.'

Cllr Brazil explained that the money was an extra to the councillors locality budget saying that the council had allocated 50p per elector.

A £35,000 lump sum was given to the South Hams but as a project had not been agreed, the money was split eight ways, between the area's county councilors.

Cllr Brazil said: 'I like it. The money has been passed on to members who know about the issues facing their area rather than officers who might not know the area.'

Kathy Ireland, from the chamber, said: 'Kingsbridge and Salcombe Chamber of Commerce are thrilled that Cllr Brazil has very kindly agreed to give his whole budget to support businesses during the Fore Street gas works.

'We had already allocated £1,000 of chamber funding towards a project and this additional money will enable us to provide subsidised assistance to the elderly and less able.

'It will also allow us to run a promotion over the period of works.

'Full details will be posted on our website and facebook pages shortly.'

Sir Simon Day, county councillor for Thurlestone, Salcombe and Allington, is planning on allocating £2,000 to Kingsbridge Town Council and a further £2,000 to Salcombe Town Council for them to use while their high streets are hit by limited access during the gas work.