A NEWLY-formed regeneration focus group has been launched to help revitalise Dudley town centre.

The Dudley Town Team, comprising traders, councillors and business leaders, has been tasked with spending the town’s £100,000 share of the Government’s £10m High Street Innovation Fund in a bid to boost the ailing town.

In a bid to attract more shoppers to the centre the group will look at ways to bring in new businesses and fill the vacant units.

The town team are also muting ideas of setting up specialist Sunday markets as well as hosting more community events in the centre and are hoping to put greater focus on tourism by forging links with Dudley Zoo and Dudley Museum.

Councillor Shaukat Ali, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “The town team are working on the detail of the proposals and looking at how we can bring them to fruition, to boost trade, tourism and visitors to the town.
“By working together and being positive about our town we can make great things happen.”