By Daily Mail Reporter

|


Mary Portas has been tasked with rejuvenating Margate

Mary Portas has been tasked with rejuvenating Margate

With her track record of helping ailing retailers get back on their feet you would think residents of any town would welcome Mary Portas with open arms.

But those in Margate have shown some resistance to the Queen of Shops because they fear she is trying to make the town too trendy.

The seaside resort in Kent has been chosen as one of 12 'Portas pilot towns' which will receive a 100,000 boost from the government in a bid to try and revive it.

Tasked by David Cameron to find out what was causing the death of Britain's high streets, Portas put forward a list of recommendations to improve towns.

Much of her advice has been taken on board and a 1.2m Government grant was given to towns who needed it the most.

She now hopes to transform the 'practically dying' resort by creating an enterprise centre and will help instal free public wi-fi in shops and also open a quality market.

But some in the town, where 36 per cent of shops are boarded up or closed, are worried they won't be able to afford anything and fear she is ignoring the needs of poverty stricken residents.

Matt, a store manager of JC Rook, the butcher told the Independent: 'You can't turn the town into something it is not. People here don't have an awful lot of money. There is no point creating lots of high-end clothing boutiques.'

There have also been concerns that Portas is more worried about putting the needs of her television company before the town.

Three of the 12 towns chosen to receive the grant will be filmed as part of a TV show and Margate is one of them.

At a public meeting held by Margate's Town Team to showcase plans of how they hope to spend the money Portas, followed closely by the camera crew, said they were an integral part of the rejuvenation.

'This isn't about me. They [the cameras] are not here to trip you up, they are here to show the journey. You either let the cameras in with me, or I go back on the train and some other town gets it and I would be very upset about that.'

Thirty six per cent of shops in Margate are boarded up or closed

Thirty six per cent of shops in Margate are boarded up or closed

The seaside resort was once a buzzing holiday destination for Britons

The seaside resort was once a buzzing holiday destination for Britons

Chairman of the Margate Town Team Robin Vaughan-Lyons said that concerns had been raised about the presence of TV cameras.

'What we did was forward the bid for the good of Margate and Margate High Street so, of course, we are very protective and passionate about our town.

'We want to make sure it is portrayed well. You could say the eyes of the world are on Margate, so obviously we do not want to be let down.'

Shopkeepers have also expressed concern about a gagging order which prevents them discussing what is happening with members of the media or posting messages on Facebook or Twitter.

They feel it is important for local people to know what is happening.

Portas has since asked production company Optomen to lift any restrictions.

A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government said the retail guru had 'asked for any restrictive elements of the contract in question to be changed'.

The department also confirmed the town would still receive their grant even if they withdrew from the series.

 

Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

I'm not sure I trust this woman, she calls for British made products and wants to bring the manufacturing industry back to Britain. But she was the first one who took the manufacturing unit to the east to cut costs when she was heading Harvey Nichols.

Love it! We are being run by an idiot. Cameron has to ask Portas what is causing the town centre decline. Any 5 year old could tell him - out of town shopping and expensive or lack of in town car parking. Give me strength!!!!

It doesn't matter how much she tries to dress it up, people don't have any money to spend, and that is the root of the problem.

Even this woman cannot save Margate. The last time I visited Margate which is 20 minutes away from my home town of Herne Bay I was mugged by eastern Europeans and assaulted by local chavs in the same afternoon. Practically every other shop is boarded up now. It is fast becoming a no mans land!

Stop whinging - looking at the photos there's a lot of shops boarded up and generating no income for anyone. At least Mary is trying to generate some income for the locals - what about the people not from Margate that will come to visit to see what she's done? you won't be moaning then when they are buying their lunches and staying in the b&bs.

Can't see free wi-fi having much impact. People either have money to spend or they don't. And while people are having to watch the pennies, it's the quality and range of goods sold that matter not gimmicks. Two reasons why the High Street is suffering: the wrong stuff for sale, which is of poor quality and over-priced; and, the depression. Specialist shops might work but only IF they gear their products to real needs of the local market and are free from the big chains who are too reliant on insular buying / merchandising departments.

The councillors in Thanet signed the death warrant of the high streets in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate when they gave approval for a massive retail park right in the centre of the Isle at Westfield. It actinmg as a black hole sucking out the trade from the old towns.

"too posh"... Typical reaction from chavs.

Pointless irrelevant woman she is!

When the media start routinely imposing gagging orders, something is very wrong!

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.