Portas Pilot funding blow for county (From Witney Gazette)
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Portas Pilot funding blow for county
9:40am Saturday 26th May 2012 in Witney
Mary Portas
NO towns in Oxfordshire have been picked for the first phase of a scheme aimed at revitalising high streets.
More than 370 towns from across the country bid to be part of the Portas Pilot – backed by retail guru Mary Portas, below – and receive part of a £1.2m fund.
The 12 winners were announced today after entries from the county came from Oxford, Abingdon, Carterton, and Didcot.
The scheme will use the winning towns as examples of how ailing high streets can thrive.
Local Government minister Grant Shapps said: “Together 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.”
But he said the quality of applications had been so good there would be a second round with 15 additional pilot towns announced by the end of July.
All of Oxford’s entries will automatically go forward.
Severian says...
9:43am Sun 27 May 12
We all know what needs to be done to rejuvenate town centres - provide adequate free parking spaces, just like we don't have here in Bicester. While you can shop out of town with oodles of free parking, or shop in town while constantly worrying about whether you've overrun the time you put on the meter then out of town will win every time.