£10k bid to boost Bradford district's high streets (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

£10k bid to boost Bradford district's high streets

8:20pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News

Attempts to breathe life back into high streets in the Bradford district will benefit from a cash injection.

Bradford is today named on a Government list of areas set to benefit from £10,000 to help kick-start local plans to rejuvenate the high streets.

The ‘town team’ partners is a scaled-down version of pilots set up by ministers alongside retail guru Mary Portas to spruce up the high street.

No specific details of how the money will be spent have yet been released by the Council.

But Paul North, Bradford Council’s Airedale Masterplan manager, said: “This funding will turn some of the ideas we have into reality. Starting in Keighley we expect to deliver and learn over the next six months.”

Miss Portas was asked by the Government to produce a report on revitalising Britain’s shopping streets earlier this year, recommending lower parking charges and dedicated ‘town teams’.

Local Growth Minister Mark Prisk said the teams would have access to an advice line, regular meetings with experts and an online ‘knowledge bank’ as well as some cash to get projects off the ground.

He admitted there was no “silver bullet”, but he added: “There’s a real hunger in town centres across the country for them to be revitalised and remain attractive places to visit. With this new support, and the opportunity to learn from each other, Town Teams can channel their energy and enthusiasm into promoting a more exciting and competitive offer on our high-streets, and help them thrive for years to come.”