Ailing Midlands high streets get Government aid

A £100,000 cash boost has been given to a number of West Midlands councils to help target empty shops in town centres.

Councils in Birmingham, Cannock Chase, Dudley, Lichfield, North Warwickshire, Redditch, Sandwell, Staffordshire Moorlands, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Wyre Forest will receive the amount in grants under the High Street Innovation Fund.

In Walsall plans are already being drawn-up by town council regeneration officers to help tackle the problem.

Tim Johnson, Walsall Council executive director for regeneration, said: “This is tremendous news. The money has been awarded from the Government’s £10m High Street innovation fund.

“We are looking to finalise the ways we use this money to invest in the future of the town centre.

“We’ve got a good working relationship with the Walsall Town Centre Champions and we hope to be able to sit down and talk to them to hear what their views are so they can help shape the future of the town centre.”

A list of ideas has been drawn-up that have been put forward by business including creating a loyalty card scheme.

The Walsall award is distinct from a separate bid for help under the Portas pilot town scheme. 

The Portas Review was conducted by retail guru Mary Portas and made a number of key recommendations aimed at identifying what authorities, businesses and communities could do together to promote prosperous and diverse high streets.

The Government has accepted the recommendation to run an initial 12 High Street pilots to test the concept.

Aside from Walsall, other local towns to submit local bids for Portas pilot status include Tamworth and Nuneaton and Bedworth.