Maidenhead bids for a share of £1m Mary Portas cash

A group of leading Maidonians are bidding for £100,000 to help breath new life into Maidenhead town centre in the short term.

A total of £1m Government cash is up for grabs as part of a competition launched by retail guru Mary Portas.

She is looking for up to 12 towns to pilot recommendations from her review into revitalising the nation's High Streets.

Maidenhead town centre manager Steph James and other town chiefs have come together to form Maidenhead Town Team and work to win a share of the money.

The team has until Friday, March 30, to submit its bid and is drawing up a list of new ideas to improve the town centre.

Steph said: "We know the AAP (Area Action Plan) will bring longer term development and people are impatient for that but this money could provide a way to boost things in the short term.

"We want to start the debate and find out if people want more pop-up shops, town centre workshops or more community events.

"The idea is to come up with innovations and things that could be trialled elsewhere as well."

Steph said membership of the group will be 'fluid' depending on who wants to get involved.

The current members held their second meeting on Monday and Steph added: "There are a lot of groups already trying to help Maidenhead and this bid is providing an opportunity to get everyone to work together."

They will be out in town in the next couple of weeks asking shoppers for their views and ideas.

People are also being encouraged to get in touch via the Enjoy Maidenhead Facebook and Twitter pages or by emailing steph.james@rbwm.gov.uk

Members:

Jane Wright, Nicholson's manager

Jeremy Spooner, Baylis Media (Maidenhead Advertiser) CEO

Tamra Booth, Shanly Group operations director

Cllr Richard Kellaway, Royal Borough cabinet member for Maidenhead

Mike Walker, president of Maidenhead and District Chamber of Commerce

Councillor Philip Love, chairman of Maidenhead Town Forum

Marie-Anne Leonard, manager of Bovilles and director of Art on the Street

Graeme Tulley, chairman of PRoM (Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead)