IPSWICH: Borough chief David Ellesmere has today spoken of his hope for the town to get a share of the �1million offered under the Mary Portas Pilot Town Scheme.
The competition for 12 towns across the country to become ‘Portas Pilots’ was launched to help breathe new life into “unloved and unused” high streets. It can be revealed today that Ipswich is set to bid for cash to encourage more street markets to the St Nicholas/St Peter’s Street area.
He said: “We will take any opportunity we can to better the town centre. Mary Portas said that one of the big things that gets people into towns is markets.
“Markets in the St Peter’s Street/St Nicholas Street encourage people to come to that area and also provide a link from the town centre to the Waterfront.”
However given the competition from other towns in the country, including many in Suffolk such as Framlingham, he remained cautious about the outcome of the bid.
“A lot of towns are chasing a small amount of money.”
Successful bids are expected to be announced in May.
n What do you think could be done to improve the town? E-mail starnews@archant.co.uk
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