TAVISTOCK's Business Improvement District (BID) is to enter a national competition to become a 'Portas Pilot' — and win a share of £1-million to benefit the town.

'Queen of Shops' Mary Portas and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps have launched the competition to find 12 UK towns to become 'Portas Pilots'.

The funding will be made available to the towns that come up with the best 'high street blueprints' that fulfil the recommendations made by Mary Portas in her review published before Christmas.

Grant Shapps said: 'Our high streets have faced stiff competition from internet shopping and out of town shopping centres, leaving them under-used, unloved and under-valued.

'For our high streets to survive they need to offer something new and exciting.

I'm offering a golden ticket to 12 town centres to become Portas Pilots — areas with the vision and enthusiasm to breathe new life into what should be the beating heart of their community.'

The successful towns will create 'town teams' comprising key players within the community, which will take forward the recommendations of the Portas review.

The organisers of the competition are looking for a good geographical spread of towns, of different types, with commitment to the town team approach, potential for improvement, innovative ideas and evidence of strong leadership.

Nigel Eadie, a director of BID, said the Portas Pilot competition was a 'really important initiative'.

'It's one we should definitely be involved

in,' he said.

'Although the high street in Tavistock isn't bad, it's a very good high street that doesn' t have huge problems, but what it does have are huge opportunities.

'That's where we see the potential money from this competition being spent. It's really all about improvement and we have always said there are lots of opportunities to improve the town and the high street, and that's why we are entering the competition.'

Mr Eadie said any improvements made to Tavistock's town centre, as a result of being a Portas Pilot town, could provide a benchmark for other high streets to follow.

'If a particular initiative works in Tavistock, it could be migrated to other areas. It's about trying to formulate a path to follow.

'I think we stand a really good chance of being up there with the rest of the competitors,' he said.

Tavistock Town Council last week backed the initiative.

Town mayor Cllr Philip Sanders said: 'While I am not saying we have a good chance of getting this, they need a good geographical spread, as well as areas of high average income, and high and low shop vacancy rates.'

Cllr Sue Bailey said: 'The BID are very keen to go ahead with this — they feel that although Tavistock isn't considered to be a prime target, it would be worthwhile to go ahead with it.

'It's a community project and it can't be done without all the councils being involved.

The council backed Cllr Brian Trew's recommendation to support the BID and 'go for it'.