THE future of New Milton Town Partnership appears to be in jeodardy after councillors decided not to fund the post of town development officer.

Instead members of the town council’s executive committee decided to increase its grant aid budget by £5,250 to £12,000, which means the partnership can apply for grant aid for specific projects.

The town council will continue to provide office space in the town hall for the town partnership which is valued at £5,000-plus.

Town development officer Ros Bowles said her post had been funded by South East England Development Agency grants for the first three years, backed by £5,000 from New Milton Sand and Ballast and contributions valued at £8,000 from Hampshire County Council.

“The future? It looks pretty uncertain after the end of December,” said Mrs Bowles.

“We have £5,000 input from Hampshire County Council for the memorial hall and that’s it at the moment.

“I’m hopeful that we will eventually get enough funding for the post to continue.

“It’s for the overall benefit of the town and without a postholder here it will be very difficult for the projects to be driven forward.”

Town development officers Alison Talbot, and more recently Mrs Bowles, have been involved numerous schemes to benefit the community.

They include the town centre Streetscape refurbishment including on-going art works, the setting up of the town market, schools community art and history projects, securing £25,000 funding for the Ashley playground, setting up the Friends of Ballard Meadows and organising the ongoing construction of the boardwalk there.

Mrs Bowles is now working with the memorial hall trustees to find a way of funding much-needed repairs to the building and also working with the town’s business community to set up a business forum.

Cllr Goff Beck said: “We felt the post had run its full course.”