Towns to get Mary Portas cash (From Gazette & Herald)

£10,000 grant to boost regeneration in Malton and Norton

12:50pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Karen Darley

Malton and Norton Area Partnership has secured a grant of £10,000 as part of the regeneration scheme backed by ‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas.

The partnership made an application last month, with the full support of local MP Anne McIntosh and Ryedale District Council, after an initial unsuccessful bid to become a Portas Pilot in July.

Following review of applications, the Minister of Housing Mark Prisk announced that they had been approved for Towns Team Partnership status with their second bid.

The partnership will act as the coordinating team for Malton and Norton and assess possible access to other funds for the future as well as work carried out recently, while the £10,000 will be used to carry out improvements to increase footfall and promote the two towns.

David Lloyd-Williams, chairman of Malton and Norton Area Partnership, said the aim was to do something positive for both towns.

“In the next few weeks there will be an assessment of the various suggestions for improvements made during a survey carried out by Business in Action seeking ideas for increasing trade and retail motivation in the two towns,” he said.

“The aim will be to get something up and running for next spring and summer.”

Mr Lloyd-Williams, a member of both Norton and Malton town councils, said the area partnership had been set up by Ryedale District Council as a stand-aside organisation to deal with funding from organisations including Yorkshire Forward.

Members include representatives from the town councils, Fitzwilliam Estate, business sector, churches and the district council.

“Our successful bid for Towns Team Partnership status is a good bit of news for the two towns and a chance to look and see what is missing,” said Mr Lloyd-Williams.

“Norton may be the smaller in terms of numbers of retail outlets but it is also very attractive and I hope we can begin to develop that.”

“We need to look at the way society is changing and promote the interests of both communities to attract visitors and business to the towns.”

Roddy Bushell, agent for the Fitzwilliam Estate, welcomed the news and said they would work closely with the partnership to carry out improvements to make the two towns more accessible and attractive to both local residents and visitors alike.

Chair of Business in Action, Denys Townsend added: “This is really good news for the businesses of Malton and Norton.

“It will enable the partnership to work with business to promote the towns to the wider community.”

Anne McIntosh MP said: “This is an extremely worthwhile partnership who will use this funding for the good of Malton and Norton community.”