Whitchurch makes last-minute bid for Mary Portas cash

Whitchurch has launched a last-minute bid for a slice of £1 million from a new Government scheme fronted by retail guru Mary Portas, it was revealed today.

The town originally decided not to bid to become a pilot area for the high street rescue scheme because of competition from other market towns in Shropshire. But business leaders and residents' groups have had a change of heart.

They now have 10 days to put together a bid.

The bid team will have to explain the reasons why Whitchurch should become one of the 12 pilot areas nationwide, and backers are promising an 'eye-catching' application.

With the deadline of March 31 looming, Whit- church Chamber of Trade and the town plan planning and implementation committee have joined forces to prepare the bid. Organisers are calling for help from businesses and individuals.

Chamber of Trade chairman Therese Hickland said members were excited about the project.

She said: "We are late starters in the game because when we chose originally not to apply, Market Drayton and Oswestry were both applying and we felt it was wrong to dilute resources by having too many bids from north Shropshire.

"But we heard Market Drayton is no longer applying. Now we need organisations and groups in the town to give us support in writing because we need that as part of the bid.

"We are concerned about the timing; we have to do a video, write the bid and get people on board.

"It is very challenging in a short space of time but we have come very far already and everybody is getting really excited."

Local government minister Grant Shapps launched the scheme at the beginning of February following a review of town centres by Mary Portas last year.

Towns must show they have the energy, enthusiasm and vision to make a difference to their town centres.

See also:

• Oswestry traders bid to win Mary Portas town cash share