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| Mary Portas fails to visit centres chosen for retail revival pilot scheme | Mary Portas fails to visit centres chosen for retail revival pilot scheme |
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| The shopping expert Mary Portas spent weeks filming attempts to revive high streets in three of the locations chosen to pilot the retail "revolution", but some others who worked away from the camera have not yet received a visit from the TV star, documents obtained by the Guardian reveal. | The shopping expert Mary Portas spent weeks filming attempts to revive high streets in three of the locations chosen to pilot the retail "revolution", but some others who worked away from the camera have not yet received a visit from the TV star, documents obtained by the Guardian reveal. |
| A series of freedom of information requests show that of the first dozen "Portas pilots" – shopping centres chosen last May to receive £100,000 each of state support and advice – five got walkabouts where Portas spent a few hours touring the high street, four got no visit at all and two featured in hour-long TV reality shows as part of the Channel 4 series, Mary: Queen of the High Street. Croydon, picked in the original wave of pilots, did not respond. | A series of freedom of information requests show that of the first dozen "Portas pilots" – shopping centres chosen last May to receive £100,000 each of state support and advice – five got walkabouts where Portas spent a few hours touring the high street, four got no visit at all and two featured in hour-long TV reality shows as part of the Channel 4 series, Mary: Queen of the High Street. Croydon, picked in the original wave of pilots, did not respond. |
| When Grant Shapps, the then local government minister, wrote to Portas in February last year he said he hoped her "help and expertise will be extended … to those pilots that do not feature in your show". Last June an executive from Mary Portas's agency emailed civil servants saying "arrangements are also being made for the pilots to meet Mary and her team in their towns in the months to come". | |
| A spokesperson for Portas said her office had "contacted all 12 of the first pilot towns chosen by the government to arrange a visit. To date, nine visits have taken place, including seven from the first round of pilot towns. These visits have been arranged around her other substantial commitments." | A spokesperson for Portas said her office had "contacted all 12 of the first pilot towns chosen by the government to arrange a visit. To date, nine visits have taken place, including seven from the first round of pilot towns. These visits have been arranged around her other substantial commitments." |
| However, the responses from councils show that Portas has not yet visited pilots in Bedford, Newbiggin by the Sea, Stockton-on-Tees and Wolverhampton. Joanna Wake, chair of the Stockton-on-Tees town team, said it had "got on with the job without Mary. We've had street food festivals, flash mobs and got free Wi-Fi in the town centre cafes. She had a TV show to make. The film crew did scout the town but said there was too much building work going on in the high street." | |
| The government has funded two rounds of pilots. As well as the cash, the first 12 were promised Portas's personal intervention, access to Whitehall officials, the support of big name retailers and a chance to share experiences at three national events. | The government has funded two rounds of pilots. As well as the cash, the first 12 were promised Portas's personal intervention, access to Whitehall officials, the support of big name retailers and a chance to share experiences at three national events. |
| The freedom of information requests were sent out by Paul Turner Mitchell, a retail campaigner. He said it was "wrong to call the winning bids Portas pilots when most town teams were left to their own devices to try and turn things round. The problems on the high street are deeply entrenched and they need serious attention, not an off-the-shelf reality TV approach." | |
| "There's been far too much emphasis on TV and too little on proper policy. It's been a case of lights, camera and no action in most of the pilots – and you can see why when they haven't had the support they were promised." | "There's been far too much emphasis on TV and too little on proper policy. It's been a case of lights, camera and no action in most of the pilots – and you can see why when they haven't had the support they were promised." |
| Broadcasters have also been accused of engineering rows in the town for the sake of ratings, something Channel 4 disputes. | Broadcasters have also been accused of engineering rows in the town for the sake of ratings, something Channel 4 disputes. |
| On Tuesday, Portas fronts a show about shopping in Margate. | On Tuesday, Portas fronts a show about shopping in Margate. |
| Last week the Guardian revealed that film-makers working with Portas on her reality TV show lobbied government officials to direct taxpayer funds to high streets because they would be popular with television audiences. Channel 4, Portas and the TV production company Optomen strongly denied any attempt to influence the process. | Last week the Guardian revealed that film-makers working with Portas on her reality TV show lobbied government officials to direct taxpayer funds to high streets because they would be popular with television audiences. Channel 4, Portas and the TV production company Optomen strongly denied any attempt to influence the process. |
| Roberta Blackman-Woods, the shadow local government minister, said the responses appeared to be "further proof that Eric Pickles and his ministers confused making TV shows and celebrity friends with proper public policy to help our high streets". | Roberta Blackman-Woods, the shadow local government minister, said the responses appeared to be "further proof that Eric Pickles and his ministers confused making TV shows and celebrity friends with proper public policy to help our high streets". |
| "I hope that these revelations force the government to reconsider how best they can support those town teams lucky enough to win 'Portas pilot' status and ensure that the funding they won is properly and efficiently used to bring life back into their town centres." | "I hope that these revelations force the government to reconsider how best they can support those town teams lucky enough to win 'Portas pilot' status and ensure that the funding they won is properly and efficiently used to bring life back into their town centres." |
| A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "Ministers have visited a number of Portas pilots and town team partners to see for themselves what more support can be offered. | A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: "Ministers have visited a number of Portas pilots and town team partners to see for themselves what more support can be offered. |
| "To build on this success, local growth minister Mark Prisk has brought together experts from across the industry to sit on our Future High Streets Forum to help tackle the biggest challenges our town centres face." | "To build on this success, local growth minister Mark Prisk has brought together experts from across the industry to sit on our Future High Streets Forum to help tackle the biggest challenges our town centres face." |