Another celebrity 'fixer'? No thanks. Let them line their own pockets elsewhere. It's not rocket science. Lower the business tax rates and the empty shops will fill. Simple as that. Stop messing around with these gimmicky ideas. Just do it. NOW! What do you think Portas would suggest?

£100,000 won't even scratch the surface, in terms of retail development its pocket money. The Washington Square development in Workington cost over £45 million, I think a sense of perspective is needed.

What is Alan Blacklock talking about - trying to get in the top 12, doesn't he mean bottom 12?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA this is utterly Ridiculous!

the council will get their grubby hands on the money and invest in some Ridiculous scheme that will completely FAIL!

Magic Beans anyone?

The only good thing Whitehaven has to offer is Gerard Richardson & co's hard work for the yearly festival, if we had more shops on offer the income they would take in that weekend alone would be fantastic, I only hope its not too little too late! CBC are stuck in a time warp!

This sounds like an excellent idea. With the current economic situation and, every day, news of yet another national business going bust, Whitehaven seems to have fewer and fewer shops and more boarded up premises. Hopefully this initiative will also encourage smaller independent businesses to flourish in the town centre.

For heavens sake. Yet another pie in the sky idea. Just start with trying to get the basics right first instead of keep pulling out these fads that come and go.