North Devon Council has called for additional assisted area status to help secure extra EU funding.
The council is calling on the Government to include other parts of North Devon on the assisted area status map to provide financial support for businesses within disadvantaged areas.
Fremington and Instow were included on the draft map, but the council is urging the Government to also include Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.
The council’s executive member for economic regeneration, Cllr Malcolm Prowse, said: ‘I am particularly disappointed that Barnstaple has not been included in this round. The town helps to drive the local economy and when Barnstaple does well, the rest of North Devon does well. Quite simply, we need to see it on the map.’
Leader of the council, Brian Greenslade, is seeking a meeting with business secretary, Vince Cable, and North Devon MP Sir Nick Harvey to discuss the matter further.
