Mary Portas in Margate's Old Town

The star of Mary Queen of Shops has been asked by Government to revive our high streets. Ashford wants to be one of the first to benefit from her ideas

Ashford is bidding for cash to give its town centre a Mary Portas revamp.

Retail guru Ms Portas carried out a review of the nation’s high streets last year, which included a visit to Margate.

Now Ashford council is bidding to be one of 12 towns that will be pilot schemes based on her recommendations published in December.

The 12 successful bidders will share a £1 million pot to help turn their high streets around.

Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Peter Wood said: “The council is committed to doing everything it can to support, develop and revitalise the town centre.

“The cabinet’s framework document Ashford 2030 emphasises the importance of the town centre to the borough’s fortunes, and outlines several initiatives which will help the high street evolve, create a buzz and attract visitors.”

The first recommendation from Ms Portas’ review asks local people to create so called Town Teams to help promote their high streets. They should be made up of key players in the local community - such as the council, local landlords, shopkeepers and the local MP.

Ashford’s bid is supported by by the town’s MP and immigration minister Damian Green.

He said: “We all have ideas about how to bring more life back into the town centre and becoming a Portas Pilot scheme could be the catalyst to make a real difference. We hope to seize the moment to help the High Street and surrounding areas.”

The 12 Town Teams will benefit from the backing of the Government and Ms Portas herself as they take forward the recommendations from the review in their area.

The Government says successful bidders will need to demonstrate how they have the vision to make a real difference to their town centres and make them the hubs of their communities.

The bidding scheme was launched by local government minister Grant Shapps and Ms Portas earlier this month.

She said: “I am thrilled that now there is an opportunity to turn my recommendations into reality by giving communities across the country the opportunity to come forward with their vision for breathing new life into their locality.

“I hope my review has inspired people with another vision of tomorrow where our high streets are re-imagined as destinations for socializing, culture, well being, learning as well as shopping. I want the first 12 Town Teams to challenge the old ways of working, experiment, take risks and reaffirm their place at the heart of a community. A place we all want to be and can be proud of.”

Ms Portas visited Margate in September as part of her review of town centres.

Mr Shapps said: “Our high streets have faced stiff competition from Internet shopping, and out-of-town shopping centres - leaving them underused, unloved and under-valued. The internet is not going to go away, and so for our high streets to survive they need to offer something new and exciting.”

To hear more about the town centre proposals visit http://youtu.be/WuiUOP1FrKQ or for a prospectus visit: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/regeneration/portaspilotsprospectus