ACOMB and Haxby shopping areas are to get £100,000 of investment after a decision by a senior councillor.

The two areas are considered “secondary shopping areas” and Cllr Carol Runciman rubber-stamped the investment – which was first set aside in a council budget last year – at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

She heard from the council’s economic development head Simon Brereton who said Front Street and The Village, Haxby, are important to the economy of their local areas and the wider city.

After the city centre and out-of-town centres like Monks Cross, they are the most important shopping areas in York. They have bigger premises and a larger range of shops than small neighbourhood shopping parades, he said, and they draw shoppers from a wider area.

The money will be split between short and long term measures, with some short term plans already decided for things like Christmas lights and flower pots in Acomb.

Cllr Runciman, who was standing in for executive member for economic development Cllr Keith Aspden, said: “Acomb is well along the way and there needs to be now a concentration on Haxby.”

The plans include a new traders’ organisation for Haxby, to follow the example of Bishopthorpe Road Traders’ Association and Acomb Alive which have seen businesses get together to improve their streets.

Mr Brereton added: “The fundamental thing is local traders coming together themselves and seeing how the council can make the area better. That really needs to be at the heart of it.”

He said it was important to have something like the funding to give people an incentive to spend their time and energy on the plans.

Cllr Runciman added: “From my own knowledge of Haxby and Wigginton, it’s a thriving community and I am quite sure that local people and local councillors will take this forward.

“I know that Acomb is another thriving community, with local councillors and local people working together to make the area a success.”

Half of the funds, £50,000, will be spent on longer term work including a research from specialist consultants on long term retail trends, how they might affect Haxby and Acomb, and what changes could be made to improve and build footfall.