Market town is one of 12 in UK to access £1.2m as a 'Portas Pilot'
Months of endeavour and hard work have finally paid off for community-spirited campaigners in a West town, after it was today named one of a dozen "Portas Pilots".
Liskeard is among the handful of towns now able to access a £1.2m fund to improve the area, as well as tapping in to the advice and wisdom of retail expert and television presenter Mary Portas.
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Mary Portas
Nearly 400 communities applied for the sought-after package in an attempt to rescue ailing town centres from demise.
Liskeard mayor Tony Powell paid tribute to the hard work ploughed into the town's bid.
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He said enthusiasm and community spirit was ripe in the town, after thousands of people crammed the streets on Saturday for the first day of the Olympic torch relay.
He said: "This is absolutely fantastic news for this town.
"We have just enjoyed the most magnificent day with the torch, which has really galvanised the town.
"This announcement will add to that excitement and to the marvellous summer of announcements which we anticipate."
The old market town has been the hub of frustrated activity in the last decade, as well-intentioned and enthusiastic campaigns to bring a cinema and bowling alley to Liskeard have failed to materialise.
It has also had to deal with the creation of a thriving out-of-town shopping district, with a supermarket and free parking, while the cost to park in the town centre has soared.
But the community spirit has not faltered, with local barber Andy Blackwell having organised a campaign to refund some visitors' parking, as well as there being a high-profile social media presence.
Local Government Minister Grant Shapps, making the announcement, said: "Together these pilots can be the vanguard of a high street revolution, and others can look to their example to kick-start a renaissance of our town centres."
Ms Portas, who visited the South West in the build-up to the bidding process, said: "I've been deeply touched by both the quality and creativity of the bids and the momentum Britain's first town teams have generated in just a few short weeks.
"Britain wants its town centres revitalised and the energy and accountability for that needs to rest with the people who live and do business there."
A second round of winners will be announced in July.
Comments
by oldjamaica
Sunday, May 27 2012, 11:44PM
“Im sure this scheme wiil enrich mary portas but i dont think it will do much for liskeard.”
by swoop4
Sunday, May 27 2012, 7:45AM
“@Peter20113 - The pretty Cornish market town of Liskeard is indeed as hard as nails. I'm sure we've never lived in an area like it.....”
by textmistress
Saturday, May 26 2012, 11:20PM
“Well let's face it - maybe Liskeard should grasp the moment and decide to vote for an 'elected' Mayor...this seems to be the best way to decide who should be in charge of the decision making. (Apparently, no-one else wants to take the post?) - Answers, (twittered on a digital postcard), please to @Liskeard, @Tony Powell etc .............hehehe!”
by Johnny_Brant
Saturday, May 26 2012, 11:16PM
“Chipbatch, just e-mail the story to the big national papers too, they lurv a good story..:)”
by chipbatch
Saturday, May 26 2012, 7:07PM
“Liskerad major Tony Powell ( a self elected merchant of greed) is the reason why Liskeard has been left in the dark ages. Can you believe this man bullied the owner of a Facebook page for the town into removing pictures and video from last weeks Olympic Flame event just because children had the nerve to stand with the crowds and be seen in the video's and photo's? If you want the story Herald drop me a line”
by Peter20113
Saturday, May 26 2012, 6:00PM
“Liskeard has a lovely town centre and it should be thriving.
However, the other week i was in Liskeard in the evening - i thought I'd wander round, find a pub, have a pint and watch a match.
First thing i saw was an abandoned car surrounded by police. walking past the post office I saw a few young bare chested blokes with tatoos shouting across the street, further on, some other blokes with bottles of cider swilling them.
The pubs looked empty and unappealing.
So, I thought, what the heck. I bought a couple of bazooka joes and tatooed meself, stripped down to me waist and bought some diamond white and had a great time abusing the locals.
I saw the future there and then”
by FOXFAN99
Saturday, May 26 2012, 5:57PM
“I did read somewhere that the towns will only get about £100,000 each out of this. You wont be able to do a great deal with that. Only ever been to Liskeard town centre twice, the only other times I go there is if I change trains at Liskeard station to get the Looe train.”
by Johnny_Brant
Saturday, May 26 2012, 4:25PM
“Wasn't 'Portas Pilot' Pontius's brother?”
by whinger7643
Saturday, May 26 2012, 4:22PM
“£1.2million fund for the lot, waste of money, that's akin to putting a minnow into shark infested waters.”
by Voicemail
Saturday, May 26 2012, 4:09PM
“'....Newly elected Liskeard mayor Tony Powell paid tribute to the hard work ploughed into the town's bid. It has had to deal with the creation of a thriving out-of-town shopping district,' .....(which I believe dear Mr Powell helped to organise and set up!) So a big thank you to Tony for that then!
The bubble-land debacle rolls on and on, what with the supermarket, free parking, plus now Argos and Homebase, soon to be followed by Aldi, no less - Yay! Great plan.
I know, why don't we just make him un-elected Mayor for ever. He is just SO GOOD for this town. Now in his 5th term, we can see that he is really steering us in the right direction!
Basically, Liskeard has become so much in need of help and guidance that it has attracted national attention.
Dear TONY POWELL - "What have you done for me lately?....."
- and what have you done for YOURSELF?
Let us hope Ms Portas is prepared to take on the 'old boy's club' and push out all of these self-seeking sycophants.”