Kenilworth Town Council has thanked local companies for getting involved in a new scheme aimed at boosting business in the town.

The new Business & Visitor Economy Forum has been launched to find out how councillors can support local firms.

KTC launched a survey last year, with local business owners sharing what they are concerned about, and what needs work on in Kenilworth.

Businesses were last week invited to a public meeting to talk further about how the council can support them.

Following the meeting, Cllr Andrew Milton said: "We have such a diversity of businesses in Kenilworth who make a real contribution to our town. 

"I'm delighted that there's a real openness to working together to make our town an even better place than it is already. 

"I look forward to exploring all the opportunities we have. 

"It won't happen overnight but together we can make a real difference."

At the meeting Cllr Milton presented a few findings from the survey.

One of the headline figures was that some 74 per cent of businesses said they were confident about the year ahead.

Access to car parking and the local hospitality offering were highlighted as success stories within the town.

Meanwhile some key concerns highlighted by businesses include:

• Higher costs
• Recruitment
• Footfall in the town centre
• Online competition
• Roadworks
• Access to banks

At the meeting, business owners also said they would like to see a better connection between Kenilworth Castle and the town centre, to ensure tourists are making the most of what the town has to offer.

Following the consultation, the council has also committed to a six-point plan to drive its new business and visitor economy forum forwards.

Among those proposals - which received unanimous support - was a drive to work with Warwick District Council and market organiser CJ's Events Warwickshire to "bring impetus to increasing the number of stalls and footfall" at the Thursday market in Abbey End.

Other priorities for the forum are to boost secondary retail, increase awareness of funding support and arrange a public meeting to engage further with local businesses.