17 Oct 2012
Town Team members are being asked to come forward with bids to make Stockport town centre more vibrant and to reduce the number of empty shops.
The Town Team now has more than 250 members and is made up of retailers, businesses, voluntary groups, market traders and residents. It is responsible for generating ideas to shape the future of the town centre.
Bids for funding will initially be submitted to the Town Team Committee for consideration and selection, before being circulated to the wider Town Team.
Earlier this year, Stockport was awarded £100,000 from the Government High Street Innovation Fund to boost its high street and £100,000 as part of its successful Portas Pilot bid. Stockport Council also agreed to contribute a further £100,000. The Council has now officially transferred responsibility for spending available funding to the Town Team Committee.
Some of the Portas funding was allocated to specific projects as part of the bid, but there is still £190,000 available for events, support for specialist retailers and creative and cultural industry development.
Chair of the Town Team and President of the National Market Traders Federation Stockport branch, John O’ Mara, said: “Once again it’s great to see so many people, so much enthusiasm and loads of ideas flowing at the recent Town Team meeting.
“Some of the ideas put forward so far include a new arts centre, improved signage for the market, more planting and numerous good ideas for a wide range of events.
“Now we have the money to put behind the ideas, I’m looking forward to receiving suggestions and bids and getting cracking on making our town centre the best it can be.”
Application packs are available to download from www.stockport.gov.uk/portaspilot
For more information or to join the Town Team, email
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