ASPIRATIONS to provide Axminster with a heritage centre will come to fruition following a grant from Devon County Council.

ASPIRATIONS to provide Axminster with a heritage centre will come to fruition following a grant from Devon County Council.The �200,000 award from the sale of Exeter Airport will help buy the site at Thomas Whitty House in Silver Street - where early Axminster carpets were made over 200 years ago.Around �1.5million will be needed to fully develop the centre and chairman of the project, John Church, says a further �150,000 will need to be raised this year to utilise the award.Leader of DCC, councillor Brian Greenslade, said: "I am very pleased that the County Council has been able to help."Axminster carpets are known worldwide and the proposed heritage centre helps the County council deliver its policy of celebrating Devon's culture."This is yet another example of the money from the highly successful sale of Exeter Airport being invested in Devon."DCC and Axminster town councillor Douglas Hull said: "I am delighted that the project is to receive this funding. If we are able to get this centre going, it will be another attraction to bring people into Axminster."This would enhance not only the local shops but the educational facilities in the town. It would be tremendous if we could get a permanent display of the marvellous carpets which we made here.