Last updated at 19:37, Thursday, 23 February 2012

Maryport's bid to become a Mary Portas high street pilot scheme has been backed by council chiefs.

And Allerdale council has pledged to help even if Maryport does not become one of the 12 English towns eventually chosen to be part of the Portas shopping initiative.

Joe Broomfield, town heritage initiative officer, has started to compile a Maryport submission for the Portas pilot.

The bid would have to be completed and sent to the Government for consideration by the end of next month.

The Government is backing ideas inspired by its shopping advisor, TV celebrity Mary Portas, which are aimed at reviving a dozen rundown high streets across the country.

A £1 million fund would be shared among the schemes, with up to £100,000 for each. They may also benefit from direct advice from Ms Portas.

Mr Broomfield said this week that Maryport should be building on the popular Love Maryport campaign, started by the Times & Star last year.

Claire Driver, town centre manager, told more than 20 traders at a meeting on Tuesday that a team would be set up to establish what Maryport town centre needed.

The council has named town centre regeneration as one of its priorities and said it would create a team to help revive the town centre.

Mark Fryer, Allerdale’s regeneration portfolio holder, told the meeting that Maryport had a huge amount going for it.

Traders have been asked to comment on what they think can be done to encourage more people to visit and invest.

Ms Driver will visit traders on March 15 to collect submissions and to offer help where necessary.

First published at 19:22, Thursday, 23 February 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk