TRADERS are being encouraged to help support a project to turn around the fortunes of Chard town centre.

Members of Chard Town Council this week agreed to investigate the possibility of bidding for Government funds to become a Portas Pilot – an initiative to help local authorities improve “unloved and unused” high streets.

The Government has commissioned Mary Portas – known as Mary Queen of Shops – to conduct an independent review of the future of town centres.

The Government is now looking for 12 town team pilot schemes in England with the project worth just under £85,000 for each area selected.

The idea is to encourage local partnerships and consortiums to come up with innovative ideas of their own about how to transform their local high street into a social place bust-ling with people, services and jobs.

The project received mixed views from Chard councillors when they met on Monday night.

Cllr Garry Shortland said some traders he had spoken with had already been enthusiastic about making a bid to become a Portas Pilot.

“The traders are keen to get involved in this,” he said.

But Cllr Graham Forsyth said: “I think it’s just a Government PR stunt to get a celebrity involved in regenerating town centres.”

Cllr Brennie Halse said: “I wouldn’t really want Mary Portas to come here and ridicule all we’ve done – £83,000 isn’t enough, in my opinion, to get Chard laughed at on TV.”

The Portas Review, published in December, made 28 recommendations about how to breathe life into declining shopping centres.

In her review Mary Portas said: “I want to put the heart back into the centre of our high streets.”

Bids have to be made by the end of March and Chard councillors would like to hear from any traders who would like to be involved.