Atherstone

Atherstone is a market town in the district of North Warwickshire. It has a population of c.8000 and acts as the administrative centre for the district, which has a total population of c. 60,000. The traditional industry for the town was hatting but this has now finished and small industrial estates within the town offer employment. With the decline of the mining industry previously sited close to the town the area falls under the Coalfield Regeneration schemes. The Town Council receives the majority of its funds from Atherstone Council Tax, which is collected by North Warwickshire Borough Council and a precepted amount paid to the Town Council. Other income is received from allotment rents, and burial and memorial charges. The Town Council also bids for extra funding from various sources to assist with projects such as improvements to play equipment. The town has a historic centre based around St. Mary’s Church and the Market Square. Tourism is an increasing feature with Atherstone being a popular stopping point on the Coventry Canal. There are still rail links, with recently improved timetables, and the town is situated close to the two urban developments of Tamworth and Nuneaton. Trade in the town has been affected by the out of town retail parks on the outskirts of Tamworth and the Fosse park development on the outskirts of Leicester. The town is within easy travelling distance of the cities of Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Leicester and Nottingham. Burton upon Trent is also within easy travelling distance.