Express & Star

Town vying for slice of £1m pot to boost retail

A task force has been set up in Walsall to try to win a slice of a £1 million funding pot for the town as part of a pilot project run by retail guru Mary Portas.

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A task force has been set up in Walsall to try to win a slice of a £1 million funding pot for the town as part of a pilot project run by retail guru Mary Portas.

Council chiefs in Walsall are hoping to win over the "Queen of Shops" with their bid which is due to be submitted on March 30. The fund has been set up in the wake of the retail expert's top level report into the state of Britain's high streets, commissioned by the Government. Walsall's bid includes six main points to boost the shopping experience.

Organisers are remaining tight-lipped about what they are but it has been revealed one plan is to introduce a loyalty card.

Angela Henderson, from the Walsall Town Centre Champions, said: "This is a brilliant scheme and it's great to see the businesses in the town really going for this.

"Walsall has such a lot going for it and we have very passionate people who are rallying behind us.

"We've got six ideas drawn-up but we're keeping them under wraps until the bid goes in on March 30.

"One thing we can say is that if successful we're looking for a loyalty card scheme to encourage people to shop in the town centre."

Regeneration chief Councillor Adrian Andrew said: "There is a lot of work to be done in Walsall town centre and we've always said we know that.

"But it is great to harness the ideas and enthusiasm of the Walsall Town Centre Champions group."

It comes just weeks after the Local Data Company revealed more than one in four shops in Walsall town centre is standing empty, or 26 per cent.

Walsall Council disputed this, claiming it was actually closer to 20 per cent.

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