By Margaret Crosby

Last updated at 11:25, Thursday, 31 May 2012

WHITEHAVEN wasn’t selected as one of the 12 Portas Pilot towns but will be included in a second round of bids which will see a further 15 towns chosen, in July.

Cleator Moor will also be a contender in this second round.

If Whitehaven wants to change its original bid in any way it must do so by June 30, and in the meantime Shelley Williamson, chairman of the Town Team created to drive the Portas bid forward, will this week take up the offer to attend a seminar in Bradford, designed to help towns with the bid process.

Shelley said that, while there was disappointment that Whitehaven was not included in the chosen 12, the town was still motivated to go for the second round. The initiative had however been far more important as a catalyst to change.

“And when you look at those towns that were chosen, their statistics are much worse than ours. Wolverhampton for example is apparently the fifth worst town to live in the country - in a way it’s good not to be included, maybe we’re not as bad as we think we are!

“So many positive things are happening in Whitehaven as a result of all this. We are starting to help ourselves... I am pretty chuffed about it.

“And last week’s announcement about the Heritage Lottery approval for revitalisation of the Market Place was great news.

“This Portas initiative is not offering a lot of money, but it’s not really about that, it’s about getting people fired up to do things for themselves in their own towns.’’

Whitehaven is already looking at what it can do to mark the national Love Your Market Day on June 23.

The 12 Portas Pilot towns that were chosen by the Department for Local Government, were: Bedford; Croydon, Greater London; Dartford, Kent; Bedminster, Bristol; Liskeard, Cornwall; Margate, Kent; Market Rasen, Lincolnshire; Nelson, Lancashire; Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland; Stockport, Greater Manchester; Stockton on Tees, Teeside and Wolverhampton.

Mary Portas said: “I’ve been deeply touched by both the quality and creativity of the bids and the momentum Britain’s first town teams have generated in just a few short weeks.

“It is now clearer to me than ever that Britain wants its town centres revitalised and the energy and accountability for that needs to rest with the people who live and do business there.”

Local Government minister Grant Shapps also praised the “exceptional quality’’ of the winning bids, which will each receive a slice of £1.2 million and a tailored package of support from both the minister and retail guru Mary Portas.

“These pilots can be the vanguard of a high street revolution, and others can look to their example to kick start a renaissance of our town centres.’’

Regeneration portfolio holder at Copeland Council, and Whitehaven Town Team member Coun Philip Greatorex said with 371 applications for the 12 places competition was always going to be tough “many from towns much worse off than ours.’’

“The team is delighted to be in the running for the next round of Portas towns but much more importantly, we have achieved what we wanted which was to galvanise the town and bring groups together to decide what Whitehaven needs and how that might be attained. The Town Team and its good work will continue – all of us are committed to delivering the things we identified in the bid.

“As a council Copeland will continually support and participate in the Town Team, which is led by the town’s traders and business people. The possible success of the Market Place THI submission, the Albion Square office development and Whitehaven Festival are examples of successes that can ensure the vibrancy of our town is maintained.”

First published at 11:09, Thursday, 31 May 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk