£10,000 cash boast for Sheerness High Street

12th November 2012
£10,000 cash boast for Sheerness High Street

Sheerness has been awarded a £10,000 cash boost to help rejuvenate the High Street.

The award was made by the government as recognition for the excellent bid by the Sheerness Town Team to be a part of the Portas Pilot Scheme.

The Team, which is made up of local traders, supported by Swale Borough Council and local MP Gordon Henderson, submitted a bid in March this year along with 326 other towns in the UK in an effort to win a £100,00 grant.

The bid was unsuccessful, however, this week the Department for Communities and Local Government announced that they were so impressed with the standard of Sheerness’s bid that they would be awarded with a consolation award of £10,000.

The Town Team plan to brighten up the area round the town’s Clock Tower by spending the money on some traditional market barrows that will be located there on Saturdays. The market barrows are expected to be rented out to demonstrate and sell goods by young entrepreneurs, local pupils and start up businesses. The hire income generated will be used to fund other improvements in the High Street.

Chairman of the Town Team, Sheerness shop owner, Pete Griffen, declared his delight at the news:
“This is great news that we think will benefit the whole town. It’s important to take on board people’s views as we develop our strategy to help reshape our town and as we move forward we will be consulting with the local community, traders, businesses and visitors.”

Gordon Henderson, who lobbied the Government to recognise the efforts of the Town Team said:
“I am delighted that all the hard work by the Town Team has been rewarded. We were all disappointed when the original bid did not succeed and I urged ministers to think again about how it distributed the Portas Pilot funds.

“This ten grand consolation award will act as an incentive for the Town Team, with the support of Islanders, to carry on pulling together to deliver the plan that was contained in their original bid.”
Swale Council’s Regeneration Officer for Town Centres, Jill Read said:

“I am thrilled the Sheerness Town Team has been successful in receiving this money. This is a huge opportunity for Sheerness. The Team is really looking forward to getting started on making improvements.”