Mary Portas’ Pilot Towns in Decline

Bedford, Croydon, Dartford, Liskeard, Market Rasen, Nelson, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Stockport, Stockton-on-Tees and Wolverhampton have seen 95 premises close since the project began.

Margate and Bedminster are the only towns which have more shops and businesses than before the scheme started.

The town teams involved in the project have come under fire before for not spending the money allocated to them quickly enough, or spending it on unnecessary items such as Dartford council’s decision to spend £1,600 on a Peppa Pig costume.

Ms Portas said in a statement, “As I’ve said many times before, there is no simple solution to the crisis on our high streets, there are no quick fixes but 400 towns up and down the country are working on different plans to try and re-invigorate their high street.”

Roberta Blackman-Woods, the high streets minister for Labour, said, “The fact is the Portas Pilots have struggled to deliver the ‘high street renaissance’ that the Government promised because they have not been given enough practical support from Eric Pickles and his ministers to use the money awarded to them efficiently and effectively in support of their local economy.”