THETFORD is set for an extra influx of council officers as part of a three year plan to make its residents healthier.Thetford received a fresh injection of government cash after being one of nine areas across the country to get “healthy town” status.

THETFORD is set for an extra influx of council officers as part of a three year plan to make its residents healthier.

Thetford received a fresh injection of government cash after being one of nine areas across the country to get “healthy town” status.

District councillors are now being asked to approve the recruitment of two extra officers in the New Year to help oversee the £900,000 scheme.

NHS Norfolk and Breckland Council already plan to bring in a healthy town project manager, planning policy officer, and community health promotion specialist, which would cost £220,000 in wages until March 2011.

District councillors will be asked at a meeting on January 7 to approve an additional senior planner within the Thetford growth point team and a community health promotion specialist in the council's sustainable communities team.

The extra staffing levels come as Breckland Council and NHS Norfolk prepare to set out more detailed aims of Thetford's healthy town project over the next three years. Proposals already suggested include a green gym scheme, extra allotments, walking and cycling projects, and healthy eating workshops.

In a report to councillors, Andrea Long, environmental planning manager, said there was a lot to achieve over the next two and a half years and the scheme would be at risk if a management structure was not put in place quickly.