A CAMPAIGN group called Wantage Rejuvenated has been formed to breathe new life into the town.

Set up by traders and local businessmen, the group has called for Sunday trading, empty shops to be brightened up with artwork and is lobbying landlords to lower rents.

The nine campaigners have also launched a Facebook group to keep residents updated on their progress.

They are planning community events to boost the town’s vibrancy and togetherness and will start with a craft fair in July.

Chairman Linda Hatter said: “The aim is to improve Wantage, encourage new businesses into the town, to get more people shopping in the town and renew a feeling of community spirit.”

Mrs Hatter, who owns Top Hatters Gifts Boutique in Mill Street, said the group would be distributing a questionnaire to traders asking those who do not already open on a Sunday to consider doing so.

The group has written to the landlords of the ten empty premises in Mill Street, Market Place, Wallingford Street and Newbury Street, asking them to consider reducing the rents of the shops to encourage more businesses to open.

And they have asked whether local artists could display their work in vacant shop windows to improve the appearance of empty premises.

The group said the Wantage Chamber of Commerce had already set a precedent with its window display of the Uffington White Horse in the former Woolworths store.

Mrs Hatter said: “We want Wantage to again be a buzzing, vibrant town where people will want to stay and shop locally.”

The group, which formed last month, has received backing from the town council, the chamber of commerce and Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, who will open the group’s first event in Market Place on Sunday, July 5.

Mr Vaizey said: “It’s just the kind of flexible and enthusiastic organisation that Wantage needs and I think it’s important to realise we are building on a fantastic community.”

The Facebook group Wantage Rejuvenated has already attracted almost 200 members.

Town mayor Patrick O’Leary said: “I am blown away by their enthusiasm.”

The self-funding group, which consists of local artist and sculptor Dawn Benson, Stuart Roper, a member of the Federation of Small Businesses, James Hart, of Hart Catering, Richard Shepherd, of Motorworld, Charlotte Faulkenau, of Segais hair salon, Wendy Gayle, of Stampatics, St John Dickson, of Design and Print Company and Tracey Smith, of Top Hatters, said they hoped the craft fair would attract a good turnout and boost morale in the town.

Last month, one national newspaper published an article describing Wantage as an ailing town.

Mrs Hatter said: “The article would have us believe that life in Wantage is over, that the recession has brought it to its knees and there is no recovery in sight.

“This is not the case.”