THE Strand upgrade is a stand alone project - despite vital district council funding pegged to a new multi-storey car park.

HE Strand upgrade is a stand alone project - despite vital district council funding pegged to a new multi-storey car park.Last week, Tory and Lib Dem district councillors clashed over plans to invest �5.5 million into a new multi-storey car park at the London Inn site and The Strand redevelopment.The earmarked cash included �1 million towards revamping The Strand - and the Conservatives criticised the Lib Dems for not backing the package.The Lib Dem's said they supported The Strand development but not the car park but, because the money was in a single financial package, they either had to agree to or reject both.This prompted town and district councilor Steve Wragg to ask urban designer Alan Stone if The Strand was dependent on other projects.He said: "As far as we are concerned, it is a single project."Steve Wragg said the car park went against the desire to move away from people's dependence on cars.But, although desirable, it was pointed out it might not be practical; because the town's large elderly population relied on cars to travel just short distances.