The Mayor of Uppingham is 'not surprised' the town's bid for Future High Streets Funding has failed.

Coun David Casewell said he believed the 51 bidders who have won through to phase two of the process to secure a slice of the £675m fund are more deserving.

"I am not surprised that we are not going though, there are many, many areas way worse off than we are.

"Areas with far more problems and less capital - intellectual and physical.

"I don't feel in any way aggrieved that we have not progressed in the funding process," he told Oakham Nub News.

Coun Casewell also said some proposals in the Uppingham bid - compiled by community partnership Uppingham First in collaboration with the town council - were not 'a statement of Uppingham policy'.

"When the Government pot of money was announced Oakham had a bid almost ready.

"It was felt Uppingham should also put together a bid.

"Some of the priorities were not necessarily a statement of Uppingham policy and were way off scale - such as an underground car park at Tod's Piece - and were more intent on grabbing the assessors' attention.

"But, we felt at the time, getting a bid in was the priority so we rocked with it."

However, Coun Casewell believes compiling the bid content has been useful for the town council to focus its priorities going forward.

"Some elements of the bid have worked their way into the draft Neighbourhood Plan, therefore it was not a wasted exercise," he added.

Coun Casewell highlighted that he was 'very grateful' to Rutland County Council for selecting the Uppingham bid for submission.

"The council was in a very difficult position deciding whether it should be our bid or Oakham's that was submitted.

"They chose a fair way of making the decision by putting them both before an independent arbitrator."

Rutland County Council put forward the town's application for the Government fund in March - seeking £5.2m to improve the town's attractiveness to public and private sector investment through a range of potential initiatives.

These included developing a community hub at Uppingham Town Hall, remodelling the A6003 from its junction with Spring Back Way, creating a new car park and showground at Tod's Piece and investing in a 'virtual high street'.

Councillor Oliver Hemsley, Leader of Rutland County Council, said: "The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government received more than 300 bids for this latest round of Future High Streets funding, which tells you just how competitive the process has been.

"It's disappointing that Uppingham has not been chosen to progress to the next stage.

"However, there will be other chances to bid for funding in future and we remain fully committed to supporting both our market towns to achieve their ambitions for residents, visitors and local businesses."