Loughborough and Leamington get revived High Streets
Loughborough and Leamington Old Town are to receive backing from the Government to rejuvenate their High Streets
Wolverhampton wins Portas Pilot scheme
Wolverhampton is one of only 12 towns in the UK to have been selected for the Portas Pilot.
West Midlands retailers have poor 'shop vacancy rates'
New figures out today from the British Retail Consortium shows the West Midlands has one of the worst 'shop vacancy rates' in the country
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£10 million fund helps ten new high street shops, full report
Ten new high street shops are up and running, and bringing in cash, thanks to retail guru Mary Portas.
She promoted a £10 million fund designed to give money to people to open shops on our high streets.
Mark Gough reports.
Mary Portas excited to be in the Midlands
Excited to visit Loughborough's high st tomorrow and meet more passionate high street crusaders. Come and say hello if you are nearby.
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'Queen of Shops' Mary Portas in Loughborough
The so-called 'Queen of Shops,' Mary Portas, will be back in Loughborough later to host a business advice day.
Last year the town was one of 27 in the country to receive one hundred thousand pounds from the Portas Pilot Scheme, designed to help struggling high streets.
£5 million Wolverhampton revamp proposal
Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet will consider proposals for a £5 million revamp of the the city centre today. Plans include better pedestrian access and reducing traffic.
The city has already secured money from the Mary Portas Pilot, a scheme to improve Britain's high-streets which is hoped will help rejuvenate the area and attract new businesses.
Leamington Old Town is awarded Portas Pilot
The Old Town of Leamington is one of 27 other towns across the UK to have been awarded a Portas Pilot. It means it will get a share of £1.5 million to spend on reviving it's Town Centre and High Street.
Loughborough and Leamington get revived High Streets
Loughborough and Leamington Old Town are to receive backing from the Government to rejuvenate their High Streets
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Loughborough receives backing to revamp it's High Street
Les Cope-Newman, Vice Chairman of the Business Improvement District, describes what the government backing means for Loughborough.
It has been selected as one of 27 towns in the UK, along with Leamington Old Town, to be backed by the government to revive its High Street.
Its all part of a report published by Mary Portas that has highlighted the need to rejuvenate High Streets that have struggled in the economic climate.
The scheme allows Town Teams to attend workshops and semiars that address the key challeneges that face struggling town centres.
"Very serious questions" about towns which missed out on Portas Pilots
The shadow planning minister has welcomed the Portas Pilots but says there are "very serious questions" about the hundreds of town centres which have missed out on the scheme.
– Roberta Blackman-Woods MP"There are now a record 23,406 empty shops in town centres alone but ministers are still failing to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
"This Government's failed economic policy and double-dip recession made in Downing Street is clearly damaging high streets across the country and short-term schemes like this will not be enough to save them."
Two Midlands towns selected for Portas Pilots
Loughborough and Royal Leamington Spa will be given a share of £1.5 million to help improve the town centres.
The money follows a review by businesswoman and retail expert Mary Portas. It is the second wave of "Portas pilots", created to revamp high streets.
The two Midlands' towns are among 15 across the country selected as part of the second wave. Those towns which have not been selected wlll be able to bid for a share of a £5.5 million pot for individual projects.
Local government minister Grant Shapps has congratulated the towns that have successfully gained a share of the money "in the face of stiff competition:"
Wolverhampton wins Portas Pilot scheme
by ITV Central
Wolverhampton is one of only 12 towns in the UK to have been selected for the Portas Pilot.
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