Walsall to bid for Mary Portas cash

WALSALL Council is set to draw up a bid for a share of a £1m fund to transform town centres.

Money has been made available in the wake of a major report into the health of the High Street by retail guru Mary Portas.

Closer ties between traders and local government featured in a list of suggestions by the expert.

Earlier this week the council pledged to continue to support retail trade in the town after it was revealed that 26.9 per cent of local shops are empty.

The council contested the findings saying the End of Year Vacancy Report produced by the Local Data Company does not give the true picture of the health of the local shopping scene.

But by bidding for a share of the Portas fund, it is clearly accepting that more needs to be done to support local retailers.

Cllr Adrian Andrew said: “We’re very proud of Walsall town centre but we want to make it even better.

“We know that times can be tough for some shopkeepers in the town and we’re working flat out to make the town a better place.

“Many of the suggestions in the Portas report we’re already doing.

“We’re working with the traders very closely with our Walsall Town Centre Champions group.

“We’re looking to communicate with people and keep people updated through social media and we have a dedicated officer who looks after the town centre and represents their concerns.

“However, we are looking to draw-up a bid for funding as we believe that we are a town that is on the up.”

Carl Mitchell, Bonce Hair Salon owner and Walsall Town Centre Champion, said that securing funding would be a boost for the town centre.

He said: “Looking at ways to fill shops would be a major priority and I’d be keen for us to look at ways we could encourage people to shop locally as they have done in other places with loyalty cards and things.”