Local MPs Marcus Jones and Dan Byles, together with Conservative Group spokesman, Cllr Kris Wilson, have today called on the controlling Labour Group at the Town Hall to back our town centres, and put together separate bids for both Nuneaton and Bedworth to become Portas Pilot towns.

The call comes after Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council were unsuccessful in securing one of the 12 Portas Pilot schemes. The programme designed by Portas will fundamentally change the way in which town centres are managed and regenerated, in a bid to reverse the decline in our town centres and mitigate the threat of out of town retailing and internet shopping.

The Government has now announced another 15 Portas Pilots, after over 300 bids were received across the country for the initial 12 pilot projects.

Marcus Jones, who chairs the All Party Group on Town Centres in Parliament firmly believes that both towns have a good story to tell, and would make excellent bids for the Portas Pilot separately.

Marcus, Dan and Kris all fear that the decision makers at the Town Hall will still ignore advice against joint bids issued by the influential Association of Town Centre Management, and not seek to resubmit separate bids by the deadline of 30th June, and risk the chance of local success.

The chairman of the All Party Town Centre Group said: “We should be working together across the political divide to secure this pilot, the offer has been there from the outset for me to lend my support, but unfortunately those controlling the council seem to favour putting party politics before the common good. Despite the rebuff from senior councillors, I am still willing to work together, as I am convinced that if we put the right bid together for Nuneaton I am sure it would have a good chance of success.”

Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group at the Town Hall said: “The Conservatives group have consistently maintained that they are willing to work cross party on this, our town centres are in peril and we must set aside politics to save them.”

Dan Byles, MP for Bedworth said: “I want Bedworth Town Centre to be a success. Separate bids are critical, and whether Bedworth or Nuneaton were successful we could no doubt use the knowledge and working practices gained from a pilot in one town to support the other. Stockport are doing just that and put in three bids to the first round, one of which was successful.”